One of the three UPLB murder suspects have been arrested Monday night. Laguna provincial police director Sr. Supt. Gilberto Cruz identified him as Joseph Beltran.
Beltran confessed that he was the “lookout” in the robbery-murder of UPLB BS agriculture student Ray Bernard Peñaranda.
Peñaranda, 19, was on his way home with two friends before dawn on Sunday when two motorcycle-riding men blocked their way and declared a holdup. He reportedly refused to hand over his belongings prompting one of the robbers to stab him in the chest.
Authorities said the two suspects who remain at large, named by Beltran as Tyrone Terbio, 19, and Carl De Guzman, 26, are believed to be relatives of barangay officials there and are apparently members of a known fraternity.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Laguna Governor Jeorge “ER” Ejercito, and Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino offered a P300,000 cash reward to anyone who can give information that could help police to locate the assailants.
Screen capture from ABS-CBN TV Patrol
