POLICE Colonel Limuel Obon, the director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), said 23 individuals will split the P1 million reward money for information that led to the solving of the Christine Lee Silawan murder.

Of the 23, five will be given priority because of the vital information they contributed leading to the capture of Renato Llenes, the self-confessed murderer of Silawan. The rest, who are considered “supporting informants” will also be given a share of the reward money because of the aid they gave to the investigation.

However, Obon said he and outgoing Lapu-Lapu City mayor Paz Radaza have not yet talked regarding the reward money, but added there is a possibility that they could get it next week. It will be up to the LCPO to determine the share of each informant.

“It will depend on their contributions. I will have to meet with my investigators to finalize this,” Obon said in Cebuano.

Obon also admitted the LCPO was caught by surprised when Llenes entered a not guilty plea during the arraignment last week.

However, he said he understood that it was just part of the strategy of the lawyer of the suspect.

Lawyer Manuel Degollacion Jr. earlier said they enter a guilty plea if the murder charge will be downgraded to homicide.

However, Obon is confident the judge will stick with the murder charge based on the evidence the LCPO has submitted. (GCM of Superbalita Cebu, ML)