USC college students enter the main campus in Cebu City wearing black shirts as personal signs of sympathy and solidarity with calls for justice for slain student Karen Kaye Montebon, a 1st year accountancy student, who was found strangled at home in Lapu-Lapu City. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Classes were suspended in the University of San Carlos late afternoon yesterday.
About 700 Carolinians attended the prayer service for Karen Kaye Montebon held at the Wrocklage Yard, one of several “solidarity vigils” held in three campuses of Cebu City.
Some students wrote messages on a wide, white tarpaulin wall that said: “We Seek Justice for Karen.” Others lighted candles at the foot. Most of them wore black shirts.
Beside the installation was a framed photograph of Karen decked with fresh flowers.
Priests from the Society of Divine Word, the administrators of USC, gave students the option to wear black or their school uniform until Friday to express support for the Montebon family.
READ: Online furor: #JusticeforKarenMontebon
“We express our indignation and shout for justice, not only for Karen but for all victims of these senseless killings. As a witness to the Word, we could not be silent and isolated with what is going on around us,” said Fr. Anthony Salas, SVD, vice president for academic affairs of USC at the prayer service.
He called on law enforcement agencies to solve the case.
“We do not want this crime to die a natural death. We feel very sad about what happened to one of our students. Her death was just gruesome. It’s indescribable,” the priest said.
Salas encouraged professors and students to never lose hope and to continue praying for Montebon and her family.
READ: Manhunt on for Karen Kaye’s killer; police looks at personal grudge as motive
University chaplain Fr. Sherwin Amorin, SVD said Karen’s father found strength and consolation ini the support expressed by Carolinians.
“Her father was thankful that even if his daughter studied at USC for just (three) months, they very well feel the support of the university,” he said.
Eleonor Baclijan, chairman of the USC’s accountancy department, asked student to “let (Karen’s) memory be an inspiration for you to do well with your studies.”