Social media was abuzz with calls for justice for Karen Kaye Montebon, a first year student of BS Accountancy in the University of San Carlos, who was found strangled at home in Lapu-Lapu City.
In a Facebook post, her school, the oldest and one of the biggest educational institutions in Cebu, expressed its indignation and sorrow.
“The Carolinian community is shocked and saddened by the news of what happened to our student- Karen Kaye Montebon. We condemn this heartless act of killing and we hope that justice be served,” said Niel Steve Kintanar, head of the USC’s Office of the Student Affairs.
READ: Murder of 17-year-old student at home in Lapu-Lapu City sparks online calls for justice
Kintanar said they condole with Montebon’s family for their loss: “We are praying that God grants peace to the soul of our dearly departed.”
Friends, fellow students and sympathetic Netizens spread the word with Twitter hashtags #JusticeForKarenKayeMontebon and #JusticeforKarenMontebon.
Some netizens like Princess Irish Villaruel called for the restoration of the death penalty for her killers.
Two special Facebook pages were created called “Justice for Karen Kaye Montebon.”
The first FB page had more than 10,000 likes and the second page had almost 6,000 likes as of 5:30 pm.
Painful loss
“For now, condolences to her family. Such a young innocent girl, longing for ambition, stripped away from her freedom to live.
#JusticeForKarenKaye”, said Khen Aquino, vice president of the USC Supreme student Council in his FB post.
“ Justice may be silent just yet, but it will speak – and it will be served.”
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza ordered Lapu-Lapu police to solve the case quickly and arrest the perpetrators.
“As a mother, I can imagine the Montebon family’s painful loss. Let us not allow her death to be in vain. I join all in seeking justice and in demanding for quick but clear answers,” she said.
The mayor called on witnesses to cooperate with the police.
“As a people, let us unite to quickly find Karen’s killers and bring them to justice,” Radaza said.