25_news_lordei_1 UP student attacked in USC office Victor Gregor Limon Word count: A fourth year Political Science major

is confined at the surgical intensive care unit of Capitol Medical Center after being attacked by a robber and two other accomplices at the UP Diliman (UPD) Univeristy Student Council (USC) on February 1. The student, Lordei Camille Anjuli Hina, may have been hit with an ice pick just above the left temple, fracturing her skull and knocking her unconcious. The UPDP was able to arrest one of the suspects, Carlo Pecayo, 35, and a resident of Antipolo, Rizal, a few minutes after the crime. Pecayo is now detained at the Quezon City Police District Station 9 while the QCPD is also conducting a manhunt for Pecayos accomplices. One of them was identified as Dante Santos, also a resident of Antipolo, while the other is still unidentified. Hinas bag, two laptops, and an ice pick was recovered from Pecayo, who could face charges of robbery and frustrated homicide, according to UPDP desk officer Cesar Oliquino. Hina is also the secretary-general of UP student organization Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS). According to Hinas friend and fellow CNS member who requested anonymity, she was with Hina at around 12 PM at the USC office doing some paperwork, when Pecayo and Santos arrived at the office and introduced themselves as members of an organization of tattoo artists. The men said they would like to apply for a booth for their organization in the upcoming UP Fair. After Hina and her friend gave Pecayo and Santos the phone number of the USCs officer-in-charge for UP Fair booths, the two men left the office. At around 2 PM, however, Pecayo returned and claimed that he would just wait outside the office for the USCs officer-in-charge whom he said he had already contacted. Hinas friend decided to go downstairs to buy food at around 2:30 PM, and Hina was left alone at the USC office. At around 3 PM, Hinas friend began receiving text messages from Hina saying Pecayo was in the USC office again, asking questions. Umakyat ka na rito. Andito na naman si kuya. Ang dami niyang tanong, hindi ko naman alam, read one of the messages. At around 3:30 PM, Hinas friend returned to the USC office. Hina however was not answering the door and the office was locked. Akala ko baka nakatulog lang kaya hindi sumasagot. Bumaba ako para magtanong kung may nakakita sa kanya. Tapos humiram ako ng susi sa [isang member ng] USC, she said. When she was able to get inside the office, she saw Hina sprawled on the floor, her face and upper body drenched in blood. Sa tabi niya, may nakita akong significant na [piraso ng bakal], she said. Hinas friend and other students then helped to bring Hina to the UP Health Service. Humihinga pa naman siya pero halos hindi siya gumagalaw, Hinas friend said. According to Vinzons Hall security guard Gerry Docto saw Pecayo leaving Vinzons Hall at around 3:15 PM,

carrying a backpack. Wala naman siyang dala nung umakyat siya kaya sinita ko siya, Docto said. When Docto asked to inspect the backpack, Pecayo started running and hailed a taxi cab. Docto fortunately took down the taxis plate number and reported it to the UPDP. Roving guards then intercepted the taxi cab along Guerrero Street in front of Asian Center. According to UPD Chief Security Officer Elvin Ebreo, Pecayos mobile phone is also in police custody and serves as a primary means of tracking down the suspects two other accomplices. Meanwhile, UP has stepped up its security measures on campus, especially at Vinzons Hall.