Capitol to Give Assistance to Family of Slain Lapu-Lapu Teen

The Cebu Provincial Government will add P200,000 in reward money to help capture the culprits of the gruesome killing of a Lapu-Lapu City teen, aside from P50,000 in cash assistance for the family of the slain victim.

This was announced by Vice Gov. Agnes A. Magpale on Thursday during a press conference in her office.

Magpale, who has been fighting against abuses on women and children for almost three decades and has seen different forms of cruelty and violence, was aghast and furious over the monstrosity by which the crime was committed.

“We would like to condemn in the strongest possible term the gruesome killing of the girl who is a minor. How ironic this happened during the celebration of the Women’s Month,” Magpale said.

When her half-naked body was found, the face of the 16-year-old Christine Silawan was skinned. A recent autopsy report also shows she sustained 30 stab wounds.

“We will coordinate with the PNP, as well as the partners of the Provincial Council for Women and Children, the International Justice Mission and the civil society, of what help we can extend to Lapu-Lapu so that the culprit can be immediately brought to justice,” Magpale said.

The vice governor said she will sponsor a resolution on Monday’s regular session of the Provincial Board for the allocation.

While Lapu-Lapu is administratively independent from the Provincial Government, Magpale said that extending help to the city is important not only for it being part of the province but because the perpetrators pose a threat to the island’s peace and order.

“It’s incumbent upon the Provincial Government to be there in keeping Cebu safe for everybody. When we talk about Cebu, we talk about the whole island,” she said. (Cebu Provincial Gov’t)