by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
Authorities have intensified the manhunt against two other suspects in the brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
“The PNP Central Visayas is reinforcing intensified operations with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) 7 to capture other suspects of the killing 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu after another person of interest surfaced and confessed his participation in the commission of the said gruesome crime,” Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in a statement.
Banac said the Police Regional Office 7 confirmed such confession of the 17-year-old former boyfriend of Silawan, who is now a suspect in the crime.
“The joint investigating body has turned over the 17-year-old boy to the DSWD 7 for safe keeping since he is a minor while proper documentation of the case is underway,” he said.
Banac also said the Regional Crime Lab Office 7 is also directed to provide the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) report and autopsy report, needed by the joint PNP-NBI investigating body.
“The NBI 7 with the support of the PNP will now consolidate the findings of the investigation to file the murder case against the suspects and ensure the immediate solution of the case,” said Banac.
Silayan was found dead in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City with her face skinned to the skull, her body with 20 stab wounds and 10 defense wounds, and her tongue, trachea, and esophagus removed.
