Only a few weeks before this academic year’s graduation ceremony, the De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) community finds itself mourning over the killing of senior BS Legal Management student, Fidex Therese Maranan, May 17.
Maranan, 21, was supposed to attend the orientation for this year’s graduating batch last May 16 but she was found dead, half- naked and covered in blankets in her own house the following day, reports say.
The victim has been reported to have suffered from a severe head injury and fatal stab wound at her neck. Autopsy reports further indicated that she was sexually assaulted and may have been dead for almost two days before she was discovered.
“Dapat kakain kami after orientation [pero] natapos na, hindi pa rin [siya] nagparamdam [kaya] nag-worry na kami,” said Aira Lingao, 4th year BS Legal Management student and Maranan’s classmate, recalling the day she went missing.
According to Monsignor Ruben Dimaculangan, the victim’s uncle and guardian, they were supposed to visit Maranan in her house that same day since she had been unreachable to her friends and classmates.
“At 4 p.m. we received a call from the Cathedral that she was already dead. I thought that she committed suicide tapos nung makita ko yung bangkay, imposibleng suicide ito,” said Dimaculangan.
Maranan is an adopted child of Cecilia Maranan and Fidelito Maranan who have both already passed away, causing the victim to be duly under the guardianship of her two uncles who are both priests, Msgr. Dimaculangan and Rev. Father Exequiel Dimaculangan.
However, ever since Maranan’s parents died, she had been living alone in their house.
“Minsan ako ay nasasaktan na parang pinabayaan si Fidex [na] nag-iisa. Bahagi ng aming pagpapari na iwanan ang lahat […] at si Fidex ang naging victim ng aming pledge.” Dimaculangan said.
As of press time, the police are currently investigating a possible motive for the crime.
On the other hand, students and faculty expressed their grief in losing Maranan.
“Sa totoo lang napakabait na tao ni ate Fidex. Napakadaling [niyang] iaapproach. Sobrang nakakalungkot kasi isa siya sa mababait na tao na nakilala ko sa batch nila na Legal Management,” said Mika Cabral, BS Legal Management senior.
Ina Louise Manto, DLSL alumna also said, “She’s one of the kindest and sweetest persons I know. Sobrang bait niya. Napaka-supportive and good listener. She’s really strong and you could tell she was good to her parents.”
“We cry and pray for justice and peace that she deserves,” Krisandra Ann Mandocdoc, faculty member, remarked.
A memorial mass in honour of Maranan was held at the Capilla de San Juan Bautista De La Salle, May 20, 8 a.m.
With reports from Akeillah Bautista, Anjali Piya, April Rose Magpantay, Lillian Margaret Viñas, Melanie Dangli, Pia Francisco and Ryan Emmanuelle Rico
