Mario Pardillo, father of Christine Lee Silawan, in an interview with reporters on March 28, 2019. | CDN Digital Photo by Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The family of Christine Lee Silawan expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for intervening and ordering the rearrest of the 17-year-old suspect.
READ MORE: Duterte orders re-arrest of suspect in Christine Silawan killing
But at the same time, they also asked investigators and law enforcers to arrest others who possibly could have a hand in the brutal killing of their 16-year-old daughter that sparked nationwide outrage.
READ MORE: Lapu Student’s Killing: Duterte asked to ensure arrest of girl’s murderers
Mario Pardillo, Silawan’s father, told reporters in an interview that they felt relieved when no other than the most powerful individual in the country ordered authorities to have the suspect back under the custody of social workers.
“Dako gyud among pasalamat sa Presidente. Di lalim nga gipagawas tung suspect unya nagdungan sa lubong sa akong anak,” Pardillo said.
(We’re grateful for the President. It’s not easy dealing with the fact that the suspect’s release came on the same day when my daughter was buried.)
However, Pardillo said he was hoping that other possible suspects would also be caught soon so that justice would finally be served for Silawan, whose lifeless body was found in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City with her skull skinned to the bone.
“Mura mi naibutan og tunok pero hinaot unta madakpan sad ang uban suspects,” he added.
(We felt like a thorn was plucked, but we hoped that the other suspects would be arrested.)
The Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that they received instructions from President Duterte, ordering to place the 17-year-old back under the custody of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
On March 23, the city prosecutor ordered him to be released, citing that the arrest made by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI – 7) did not qualify as a warrantless arrest.
His release came on the same day Silawan’s remains were buried in a cemetery in Cordova, the neighboring town of Lapu-Lapu City.
READ MORE: Suspect in the Christine Silawan murder freed
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE
