Given Grace Cebanico, rape-slay victim, laid to rest in Rizal

Given Grace Cebanico, the 19-year-old University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) student who was raped and murdered in Laguna last week, has been laid to rest in her hometown Tuesday.

A number of Given Grace's friends, schoolmates and relatives attended the lavender-and-white themed funeral march leading to the Santo Rosario Memorial Park in Binangonan, Rizal earlier this afternoon.

In an interview with dzBB radio, Given Grace's mom called for justice and asked authorities to secure schools so that the incident will not happen to anyone again.

"Alam ko ang hustisya ay makakamit sa lalong mas mabilis na paraan at panahon... Sana itong nangyari sa aking anak ay hindi mauulit, kung kailangan magdagdag ng tanod, sana mangyari yan para ang naramdaman ko hindi maramdaman ng iba," Mrs. Cebanico said.

Suspects Apprehended

Reports say that Given Grace was making her way to her dormitory when suspects abducted her. Her lifeless body was then found at a canal near the Institute of Plant Breeding road early Tuesday morning. She was reportedly handcuffed and gagged. She also sustained a gunshot wound to the head and several bruises to the body.

According to the police, there were indications that Given Grace was also raped.

At least two suspects in the brutal killing of Given Grace are now under police custody - bank security guard Lester Ivan Rivera and tricycle driver Percival de Guzman.