Suspect in Cebu teen's murder 'not yet off the hook'

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday, March 25, that the 17-year-old suspect in the brutal killing of Christine Lee Silawan in Cebu is not yet off the hook despite his release.

“He is not off the hook ha. Hindi porket ni-release siya ng husgado, he is already off the hook. Ang sinasabi lang hindi na siya pwedeng arestuhin that time because it doesn’t fall on warrantless arrest and hot pursuit operations kaya yan ni-release ng korte, hindi ibig sabihin na wala siyang kasalanan,” Albayalde said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

On March 22, Friday, the prosecutor’s office ordered the local social welfare and development to release John (not his real name), citing that his arrest, which was conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on March 16, was invalid.

The release of the suspect came few hours after Silawan was laid to rest.

Silawan was found dead, with her face skinned, on March 10 in Barangay Bankal in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu.

Albayalde said John’s arrest is no longer covered by the warrantless arrest or hot pursuit operations, which should be conducted immediately after the crime has been committed.

Meantime, Albayalde said he ordered the local police to continue close coordination and to extend all the help they could give with the NBI, which spearheads the investigation on the case. (SunStar Philippines)