MURDERED. Former University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) president Rolando Delorino is shown in an undated photo. Officials and townsfolk in Northern Samar province mourn his death after he was stabbed dead by an attacker on Sunday (June 13, 2021). (Photo courtesy of UEP)
TACLOBAN CITY – Officials and townsfolk in Northern Samar province are mourning the brutal killing of former University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) president Rolando Delorino on Sunday, allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA).
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan said in a statement on Monday the retired official was living peacefully in his retirement home when stabbed by an attacker.
“We hope that justice be served to a peace-loving and faithful public servant,” he added.
Rep. Paul Daza (Northern Samar 1st district), in a separate statement, also condemned the ruthless killing of Delorino who served as the president of the biggest tertiary school in the province from 2016 to 2019.
“The province has lost one of the great leaders and educators, on the sands of time, you have left your footprints with glory. You will always be remembered for serving the UEP and the academe,” he said.
Col. Arnel Apud, Northern Samar provincial police chief, said Delorino was found bathed in his own blood by his daughter at their residence in Dalakit, Catarman town around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday.
After a few hours, policemen arrested Alvin Plandez, a 22-year-old construction worker believed to be the murder suspect. Apud said the suspect was identified through CCTV footage.
He was wearing the same clothes and carrying the murder weapon, a medium-length sharp-bladed knife when arrested by policemen. He reportedly returned to the crime scene to check the victim’s status.
The suspect claimed the New People’s Army (NPA) would kill his family if he would not kill the retired university president. Apud said they are still validating the claim of the suspect who is now under their custody.
"I have directed the chief of police of Catarman municipal police station to conduct an in-depth investigation to establish the possible motive in the death of former UEP President Rolando Delorino. I also directed the investigators to consider all possible angles, collate pieces of evidence and statements that could shed light on this unfortunate event. Rest assured that the perpetrators behind this brutal crime will not go unpunished," Apud said in a statement sent to reporters.
Meanwhile, UEP president Cherry Ultra considered Delorino as a leader who espoused a vision of change, which served as his “legacy and imprints in the aesthetics of UEP history”.
“We are one with the academic community in seeking justice for the former President Delorino who formerly stood as a patriarch of the UEP in the previous years. We will remain vigilant and we will stand with the bereaved family to bring this case to justice,” Ultra said.
UEP, with its flagship campus in Catarman town, is the first and largest state university in Eastern Visayas, offering several undergraduate and graduate degree programs and short-term courses and certificates. (PNA)
