Teen suspect in Silawan slay to be sent back to youth care center ‘for his protection’

The 17-year-old suspect in the murder of Christine Lee Silawan following his arrest on the night of March 16, 2019 by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) at his residence in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City. | CDND Photo/ Paul Lauro

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Lapu-lapu City Prosecutors Office has asked the parent of the teen suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan to bring back the suspect to the city’s children in conflict with the law (CICL) facility.

Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor Ruso Zaragosa  confirmed he visited the house of the suspect in Barangay Maribago earlier today, March 27, to meet with the boy’s mother who agreed to allow her son’s return to the Lapu-Lapu City Home Care Center,  the city-run facility that houses CICL.

However, Zaragosa clarified that the suspect’s stay in the facility will not be counted as detention but rather, as a protective custody.

The decision to return the suspect to the CICL center came barely a day after President Rodrigo Duterte questioned the release of the 17-year-old suspect.

Zaragosa revealed he received a phone call on Tuesday from President Rodrigro Duterte but it was before he delivered his speech in South Cotabato and to  ask why the suspect was released.

In a speech in South Cotabato on Tuesday evening, President Duterte revealed that he called up the prosecutor to ask the latter to reverse its resolution issued last Friday, March 22,  which allowed the suspect’s release.

“Duna siyay reservation pero gusto lang niya unta nga mapahimutang ang bata kay basin unya molayas,” Zaragosa said.

But the prosecutor maintained that his asking the suspect’s parent for the boy to go back to the home care facility does not equate to reversal of the resolution.

“Gi-adto gyud nako ang ginikanan ganina para hangyoon nga ipabalik lang nato ang bata samtang nag-imbestigar pa ta sa kaso. Kanang iyang pag-stay diha sa home care is not in the nature of detention but protective custody,” Zaragosa said.

The prosecutor explained that the safety of the boy may be at risk because of threats posted against him online from people who were frustrated by his release.

“Delikado baya siya sa pagkakaron kay dunay mga tawo nga nasuko niya nga gibuhian siya. Kung basahon sa  Facebook moingon nga ‘asa na iyang balay kay ako na lang ang mopatay.’ Mas maayo nga adto siya sa homecare para protektado siya walay modagmal niya,” Zaragosa said.

Zaragosa added that he already talked with Senior Inspector Limuel Obon, director of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office (LLCPO), to deploy personnel at the CICL facility to ensure the safety of the suspect when he returns there.

“Ang inahan nahadlok pod daw siya kay kadungog siya ana (threats). Kasabot pud ang inahan kay para man pud sa safety sa iyang anak,” he said./elb