- One of the suspects in Given Grace’s slay pleads guilty because of ‘conscience’
- Bank security guard Lester Ivan Rivera pleads guilty to rape with homicide, theft
- Given, 19, was found dead near the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in 2011
One of the suspects in the killing of 19-year-old University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) student Given Grace Cebanico has changed his plea to guilty.
In an article written by Pia Regalado of ABS-CBN, it was disclosed that Atty. Tito Sese, the legal counsel of the Cebanicos, confirmed that Lester Ivan Rivera pleaded guilty to three counts of rape with homicide and one count of theft during the hearing last Tuesday, February 23, at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.
According to Pastor Jun Cebanico, Given Grace’s father, Rivera pleaded guilty after being hounded by his conscience.
“Ang sinasabi niya, hindi na kaya ng kalooban niya na magpatuloy na magsinungaling kaya gusto niya talaga ay aminin na [He said his conscience cannot hold back the truth anymore that is why he really wanted to admit what he did],” he said. He added that the family is thankful that after four years, at least one of the suspects will soon pay for what he has done.
In October 2011, Given Grace, a third year Computer Science student, was raped and killed. Her body was found on Apec Road at the outskirts of UPLB, where she was a junior computer science student. She bore stab wounds, her hands cuffed and her mouth gagged with a handkerchief.
Meanwhile, the other suspect, tricycle driver Percival de Guzman — who allegedly forced Cebanico into a tricycle before bringing her to the crime scene — maintains his innocence.
The defendant is set to present another witness and additional evidence at the continuation of the hearing on March 3 and 10. He is currently detained in Los Baños municipal jail.
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