If there is one place in the whole of the Philippines where I feel safe to walk any time of the day--or night--it is Los Baños, where I have spent a decade of my life.
As a university town, Los Baños cradles thousands of students coming from different parts of the country. A few stay at the FEW dormitories inside the campus, but most students live in dormitories and apartments in nearby subdivisions. Students going home late at night are a common sight, coming from endless meetings with group mates and org mates. Sometimes they stay late to induce alcohol or caffeine, usually in that order, with friends. But nobody is afraid to go home late at night in Los Baños. It’s the safest place.
Not anymore.
Last Wednesday, news broke about the brutal death of Given Grace Cebanico, a junior UPLB student. According to reports, Given was walking home at 2am to 5th of September Mansion, her dormitory, after a group study session for a final exam. She and her friends parted ways at the corner of Agapita, a well-lighted corner because of a convenience store and street lights in the subdivision’s main road.
Given’s dorm is located in Diamond Street, where everything is still at 2am; the street has few lampposts, but it is relatively near the Barangay Hall of Batong Malake, more or less 500 meters away from it. Perhaps, this is one reason she felt safe to walk home alone at 2 am in that dark and still street leading to her dorm.
What happened to her between 2am and 6am could not have been done by a human being, not even by an animal. Only pure evil could have stabbed and shot a young woman. Only pure evil could have dumped a body without fear near a canal inside the university where she studies. And should reports confirm that Given was raped, that, too can only be done by pure evil. The nerve.
Months before, there were news about students being mugged in the same subdivision where the Barangay Hall is located. Many suspect that it was because of the many ongoing building constructions in the area, bringing in workers who were not actually from there. Others think it was done by people who were relocated in the neighboring barangay to vote for the present mayor last election. All these suspicions, however, were never confirmed since the barangay officials--and more important, the town mayor, (dis)Honorable Ton Genuino--kept mum about these security issues and what’s worse, did not do anything to prevent such incidents from happening then and again.
Two days after Given was found dead, these officials still have not yet released any statement. I doubt if they went to Given’s service at St. Therese to offer their condolences. This is yet another form of pure evil--when you know you can do something--you have the power--to prevent something bad from happening but you are not doing it.
This is what’s really scary here. The local government officials are not taking care of their people. We are not taking care of each other anymore. The suspects were a bank guard (at large) and a tricycle driver, people who bring us a feeling of security--that the bank may not be robbed or that we be delivered to our doorstep safely, especially in the middle of the night. It turns out that the very people we expect to give us security are the ones who breach it.
The local government should genuinely and immediately respond to the security issues for the safety of all, especially the young students who consider Los Baños their second home. Had they seen the utter misery in the face of Given’s mother in her wake at St. Therese, these officials would have felt guilty of their shortcoming in providing a safe and secure environment for temporary residents studying and working in LB.
May this be the last time we have to hear a story that sends chills to the deepest of our being.
Justice for Given Grace!
