A graduating college  student of Silliman University in Dumaguete City was found dead with multiple stab and hack wounds at her rented apartment in Sibulan town, Negros Oriental, at about 3 a.m. yesterday.

Police reports identified the fatality as Myra Abrenica Gabato, 25, a Business Administration student. Her younger sister, Melanie, was discovered hogtied by still unknown suspects, who had forced their way inside the victims' apartment at Ablir Street, Barangay Poblacion, a few blocks away from the Sibulan police station.

Their brother,  Mark Neil,  said  Melanie called up at about 5:45 a.m. and  in a  trembling voice said her "Ate" Myra was stabbed and is already bathed in her own blood. He immediately informed his father, Juan, and the rest of the family about it  and  they called up their relatives in Piapi, who, in turn, informed the Sibulan Police Station.

Investigators initially believed it was a robbery, because, Melanie said, she heard Myra telling the suspects to take what they needed. It was dark at the time and it was only much later that she discovered her sister was dead, the police said.

Sibulan police chief, Senior Insp. Antonio Detuya dispatched his intelligence unit to track down the suspects. A white T-shirt with markings and blood stains was found near the terminal of the multicabs in front of the Sibulan gymnasium.

No murder weapon was found at the crime scene, but several finger prints were noted, and the room where the victim was found lying on the floor was in complete disarray, especially the shelves where the victim's belongings are placed.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives, headed by Major Franco de Leon, said the suspects  could have  been  looking either for money or documents, but the two laptops and cellphone were not taken,  and only a  Galaxy Note cell phone  was gone.

SU Students dean Edna Calingacion and the University General Counsel, Myles Bejar, proceeded to the area to  ensure that procedures  in the investigation are properly observed, Raygan Garcia of SU said.

In a press statement it issued, SU said it "condemns the brutal murder of our student and the physical abuse that her sister experienced in their rented apartment". The university is coordinating with the family of the victims.

"We urge all sectors involved to work together in achieving justice. Let us also sustain the victims and their family in our prayers,"  the  press statement from Silliman said.

Early police investigation showed that Myra was engaged to a German national, whom she was going to marry soon after graduation. The sisters had moved into their new apartment, owned by Pamela Jansen, a Filipina married to a German national, only last October 26 on a three-year contract, at P35,000 a month.

The Gabato sisters are from Moalboal town in Cebu province.

Meanwhile, public clamor is rising for stronger law enforcement and resolution of crimes perpetrated in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental.

Posts on social media sites, like Facebook, condemned the murder of Gabato, while others were also seeking justice for another student, who was stabbed at least 17 times the other week in Mabinay, also in Negros Oriental.

The victim, Janine Lasmarias, 16, and a student of the Mabinay Science High School, was killed in her home in Barangay Lumbangan of the town  on October 30. Until today, police have not announced any new leads on her murder.*

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