INITIAL stories about the arrest Tuesday (April 9) of a new suspect in the March 10 murder of Christine Lee Silawan who "confessed" to the gruesome killing might:
* Clear the 17-year-old former boyfriend of Christine who has returned to DSWD "custody"; or
* Associate him as co-principal or accomplice in the murder.
There was no mention of a link between the new suspect, a much older man (42), and the ex-bf. Not from those who announced the break in the case: Lapu-Lapu City police chief Limuel Obon, regional police chief Debold Sinas, Mayor Paz Radaza, or PNP chief Oscar Albayalde who was in Bohol Wednesday (April 10).
The man, who was caught in a buy-bust operation near the vacant lot in Bankal where Christine's body was found, confessed to the murder. No mention was made of other persons who joined or were with him at the time of the killing.
Speaking from Tagbilaran, Albayalde said the new suspect will be presented to media Thursday (April 11). By then, police, NBI and Public Attorney's Office may have their story reconciled.
And the major kink would be the teenager's role since NBI had earlier filed the case against him with the prosecutor's office. Among their evidence allegedly linking the boy to Christine's murder were:
* CCTV images of him and the victim, last seen together before her body was found, which allegedly were identified by witnesses as those of the young estranged couple.
* the blood stain on the shoe (not the cap or shirt?) of the ex-bf, matching with blood sample from Christine.
No other participants?
The bits of information trickling out after the arrest of the new
suspect was that the man knew Christine through social media and became obsessed with her. That could mean he wanted her solely for himself and wouldn't want others to be with her.
That could mean there was no gang, much less a gang rape. But there was probably rape, by him alone.
What confession means
A confession by a second suspect wouldn't necessarily mean he did it and the first suspect did not do it. That was why Albayalde said the case was not yet solved. Police and NBI were scheduled to check the new suspect's claim and see if it could stand scrutiny and jibe with the gathered evidence.
It is possible though that NBI, which filed the charge against the teenager, might revise its theory, depending upon how the confession would hold. Mayor Radaza said the suspect was big and burly, indicating that he could have done the deed that the PAO forensic team estimated would require at least three persons to do.
The drug angle
If the new suspect, who was on the police drug watch-list, would turn out to be a drug user as well and was high at the time of the killing, that might explain the skinning of, or splashing of acid on, the victim.
The number of stab wounds (30) in Christine's body was exceeded only by those inflicted on 14-year-old Thesa Marie Ygay (34). Thesa's body, dumped in the septic tank of the school in Cogon Cruz, Danao City, was found Monday (April 8.)
The two cases could be useful to President Rodrigo Duterte in his speeches hyping up the drug war.
When boy turns 18
Law enforcers may check the birthday of Christine's former bf. A beat news reporter said the boy would turn 18 any day, stripping him of his "child" status. The ex-bf will be tried as an adult though because he was certified by DSWD as having "discernment" or knowledge of what was right and what was wrong.
That is, if evidence provided by the new suspect would not rule out his participation in the crime.
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