Police found a total of 20 stab wounds on the body of church collector Christine Lee Silawan. /Contributed photo
Cebu City, Philippines — Christine Lee Silawan, the 16-year-old high school student who was found dead in a vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City on Monday, March 11, died due to multiple stab wounds.
Superintendent Benjamin Lara, medico-legal officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in Central Visayas, confirmed this in a press conference on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
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Lara said Silawan sustained a total of 20 stab wounds, and nine more believed to be defense wounds, an indication that Silawan attempted to fight back.
“Yung resulta sa autopsy, the victim died due to multiple stab wounds, to the neck and to the body… There were a total of 20 stab wounds, and nine more defense wounds,” he added.
But as to whether Silawan was raped, Lara said probers are still investigating into the matter. He said an examination is being conducted on the specimen samples extracted from the victim’s corpse.
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“Kumuha tayo nang specimen for examination to determine if there is presence of any bodily fluid coming from a male,” Lara said.
The PNP Crime Laboratory is still determining how Silawan’s face was skinned, citing that some of their initial findings were inconsistent.
Lara said they haven’t ruled out yet the possibility that a corrosive substance was used to skin half of Silawan’s face even if they didn’t find any burnt marks or any indication of a chemical being used.
“We are looking at all possibilities. Isa na yung possibility is paggamit nang corrosive na object (or acid). Right now, everything is still a possibility. Rugged yung edges nang skin kung saan natanggal at the same time intact yung both eyeballs. Kaya it’s difficult to determine this point,” he added. /dcb, bmjo