Suspect in Cebu teen’s slay: Free victim’s former boyfriend
A 43-year-old suspect in the gruesome murder of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu has pleaded to authorities to release the victim’s 17-year-old former boyfriend.
Renato Llenes, alias Renren, was presented to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde during his visit at the regional police headquarters at Camp Sergio Osmeña yesterday.
“It was only me, please free him, that’s another burden on my conscience,” Llenes told reporters.
Llenes, who was arrested on Tuesday, said he executed an extrajudicial confession because he was bothered by his conscience.
His lawyer Manuel Degollacion Jr. said Llenes’ “bulky” confession would be attached as evidence.
Up to the court
Albayalde said they are leaving it up to the court to decide if Silawan’s former boyfriend would be freed.
Tomas Enrile, National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas director, maintained that they have evidence against the 17-yearold suspect.
Silawan’s former boyfriend was arrested on March 16 after he was identified as the person last seen with the victim.
He is under the custody of the Lapu-Lapu City social welfare office.
Facebook accounts
Initial investigation showed that Llenes used three Facebook accounts to court Silawan.
Llenes claimed Silawan became his girlfriend through his Facebook account wherein he identified himself as CJ Diaz, with a profile picture of a teenager.
Citing Llenes and Silawan’s private messages, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police chief, said the two decided to meet at the Sacred Heart Parish, where Silawan served as an altar girl.
Silawan was reportedly disappointed when she met Llenes “who was too old for her” that she decided to go home.
Llenes said she stabbed the victim using barbers scissors following an argument when she told him that she was no longer a virgin when he asked her to have sex with him.
Llenes said he also used the scissors to skin the victim’s face so she could not be easily identified. He said he learned skinning on YouTube and videos from Momo Challenge.
Autopsy results showed that Silawan, whose body was found in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal, suffered 20 stab wounds.
Llenes said he did not rape Christine or removed some of her internal organs.