On the other hand, Joseph Beltran, is the alleged lookout. He was arrested in Barangay Batong Malake in Los Baños. Beltran admitted having acted as the lookout in the robbery-murder.

Three suspects – Tyrone Terbio, Carl Dactil de Guzman, and Joseph Beltran – are filed with robbery with homicide charges.

Ray Bernard Peñaranda's killing sparked a massive outcry within the UPLB community as it happened less than a week after a 14-year-old Rochel Geronda, a student of the Los Baños National High School was r@p#d and murdered in the same area. This prompted Camp Crame to order the relief of the town’s police chief and of the entire municipal police force.

Peñaranda's bereaved family said they are relieved that all three suspects have been arrested and the victim's relatives hope Peñaranda will be the last victim of such violence near the UPLB campus. But unfortunately the hope remains as a new robbery victim was discovered-Peter Jairron Cruz. He was stabbed in the abdomen and both arms.

The Burial of Ray Bernard Peñaranda

March 11, 2012- A Mass was officiated by Rev. Fr. Bong Sanchez at the St. Jude Thaddeus chapel in Barangay Sampaloc before the remains of Ray Bernard Peñaranda were buried at the Haven of Rest.

In his homily, Fr. Sanchez consoled Peñaranda’s parents, saying their son “died so others may live.’’ The priest added that had it not for Peñaranda, one of his two companions at that time could have been killed.

“He offered his life to save others. He is now in heaven and is happy looking at us,’’ he said.

Friends and relatives released white balloons into the air as Ray Bernard Peñaranda was buried in Tanay town in Rizal province. Majority of them wore white shirts with the words “Justice for Bernard” and “We will never forget.”

“We might have lost a son but we know that we already have an angel who would be guiding us,” said Peñaranda’s father German, an agriculturist.

Sampaguita vendor buried

Rochel Geronda, r@p#-murder victim in Los Baños, a 14-year-old sampaguita vendor, was buried at the public cemetery on March 7, 2012.

The body of Rochel Geronda was found in a banana plantation in Barangay Batong Malake last Feb. 27 in Los Baños, Laguna. The victim was last seen at around 8 p.m. when she left their home in Riverside Subdivision to go to a computer shop.

Chief Inspector Orlando Castil Jr. Laguna-Criminal Investigation and Detection chief said that eight people – including the caretaker of the property where Geronda’s body was recovered and the owner of the house – were invited to the police station for questioning.

Police said Estregan assured the parents of the victim that he would pursue justice for their daughter.

The provincial and local government has put up a P100,000 reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects in the r@p#-slay case.

UPLB installs CCTV cameras

Meanwhile, UPLB officials started installing closed-circuit television cameras in strategic areas of the school compound. The move is part of the security precautions following the killing of Peñaranda, said UPLB Student Council official President Panganiban.

At least 12,000 students were enrolled at the UPLB, of whom only around 2,000 are staying in its dormitories. “The rest are paying rents at dormitories outside because they could no longer be accommodated at the university’s rundown dorms,” Panganiban said.

Alarming State of Los Baños Community

At least six Los Baños policemen said to be the coddlers of the three suspects in the killing of Peñaranda are under investigation. Chief Superintendent James Melad, Calabarzon police director, said several members of the Los Baños police serve as protectors of criminal gangs in the area. Cruz, however, refused to identify the policemen pending the results of the investigation.

As mentioned above, prime suspects are relatives of the village barangay officers too. In such state, this would eventually create loss of confidence and trust from the local settlers to their respective village officials. And the biggest question remains, how many unknown criminals of these kind are still walking freely across the streets of Los Baños?

We hope that authorities will find ways to maintain peace and order in the area as soon as possible before the land becomes the ground of filthy criminals.

Sources: GMA News, philstar, PDI news,