Psychologist: Llenes is physically and mentally fit to face trial

A complaint for murder was already filed before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office against Renato Llenes, the self-confessed killer of Christine Lee Silawan. /CDND File Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Renato Llenes, 42, is physically and mentally fit to face trial for the murder of church collector Christine Lee Silawan.

This was the findings of Dr. Rene Obra of the Center for Behavioral Sciences Department of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

“Among over-all assessment during the examination last Saturday and Monday.. wala gyud mi maka elicit ug any signs or symptoms of any psychopathology. This meant that he is mentally sound,” Obra said in an interview over radio dyHP on Wednesday, April 17.

“Wala gyud mi kaelicit ug any signs or symptoms of any psychopathology, meaning he is mentally sound. Among recommendation sa report (nga) gi submit sa kapulisan is that he is, at present, physically and mentally fit to stand trial,” he added.

Read More: Suspect Llenes recounts how he killed 16-year-old Christine Silawan

Obra said that Llenes has the ability to recall details of the crime he allegedly committed, from the moment he created a dummy Facebook account to lure Silawan, to the actual commission of the crime in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City.

“Makahatag siya ug blow-by-blow accounts on what has happened. Katong nag gamit siya ug fictitious nga account name sa Facebook para ma lure and ma attract si Christine Lee Silawan. Sa pag chat niya gamit niya ang apelyido nga Diaz ug naa pay lain ngalan,” said Obra.

He said that Llenes admitted that he has been a drug user since he was 11-years-old. Recently, he started showing signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

But Obra refused to elaborate further citing the confidentiality rule between doctors and their patients.

Obra said that Llenes was supposedly scheduled for another round of psychological evaluation on Tuesday, April 16, but it did not push.

Lapu-Lapu City police filed on Tuesday a murder complaint against Llenes at the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Read More: Police file murder complaint vs Christine’s killer

Read More: Lapu Prosecutor to consolidate murder charges vs suspects in Silawan murder

Obra also said that it will now be up to the prosecutors or judges handling Llenes’ case to determine the veracity of this extrajudicial confession.

“Ang among katuyuan is (just) to determine whether he is physically and mentally fit to stand for trial, and if aware ba siya on what is going on and what has happened,” he added. /dcb