The President sent flowers to the wake of Christine Lee Silawan in Barangay Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City. CDN Digital photo | Tonee Despojo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has condemned the brutal killing of Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City.
“Ang problema sa droga, law and order ngayon. At ang krimen, maniwala ka niyang kulto-kulto, p*****. Binabalatan ang mga mukha ng mga,” President Duterte said in a speech during the campaign rally of PDP – Laban at Isabela province in Northern Luzon last Wednesday evening, March 13, 2019.
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His speech was aired live on the official Facebook page of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
Duterte also ordered the police to arrest the suspects behind Silawan’s killing.
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“Itong pumatay na ito…’yung babae…sabi kasi ng ano, mga pulis kulto-kulto. Sabi ko, ‘Hanapin ninyo ‘yan. Yung binalatan ‘yung ano, sabi ko drugs [yan],’” he said.
Mr. Duterte was referring to Silawan’s death, whose face was skinned and several of her internal organs missing.
Read related story: Lapu teen wasn’t the first murder victim in Cebu whose face was skinned to the bone
Her corpse was found on a vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City last Monday, March 11, 2019.
In a separarte interview, Senior Superintendent Limuel Obon, director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO), said they already identified the motive of the suspects behind the killing of Silawan.
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“May motive na ta pero di pa namo mabutyag run kay mapreempt atong follow up investigation and manhunt operation sa suspect,” said Obon. /bmjo