President Duterte Orders Police to Hunt for Cebu Teen Slay Suspects

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, March 13, announced that he ordered the police to search for the suspects in the gruesome murder of a 16-year-old high school student in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“Itong pumatay na ito…’yung babae…sabi kasi ng ano, mga pulis kulto-kulto. Sabi ko, ‘Hanapin ninyo ‘yan. Yung binalatan ‘yung ano, sabi ko drugs [yan],’” President Duterte said in his remarks during the campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan in F. L. Dy Memorial Coliseum in Cauayan City.

The victim was identified as Christine Lee Silawan, a student of Maribago High School and was first reported missing by her mother after she failed to return home from serving as a collector in church on Sunday.

On March 11, Monday, her body was found half-naked in a vacant lot in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bankal in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. The teenager was skinned to the skull and suffered multiple stab wounds. Investigations on Silawan’s case is still ongoing.

Moreover, President Duterte condemned different assault cases, particularly rape incidents where the victims were minors.

“Sa aming panahon, may nire-rape. Eh biro mo — that’s a crime that goes with humanity. Biology ‘yan eh,” he said.

“Pero ngayon kita mo naman, bata ni-rape…rape-in (rape) ‘yung 5-year-old na bata ng pari. Tapos, kahapon may pinatay, binalatan ‘yung mukha. Tapos, ‘yung iba, four months old. Iyong nag-rape ng four months old, patay na ‘yun. Mauna ka sa impiyerno. Iyong human rights…baka hindi niyo alam. You try to dig into the case and you’d find that my revulsion sa ganun,” he continued.

President Duterte then reiterated his warning to people who commit these crimes and those who are involved in illegal drugs.

“Do not destroy my country, either by drugs or by committing rampant criminality because I will kill you,” President Duterte said.

“And do not feed my children and my neighbors’ children with shabu o kung anong drugs man…ecstasy… because I will kill you. And that is a warning to everybody,” he added.

President Duterte confers Order of Lapu-Lapu on brave soldiers

Meanwhile, before the campaign rally, the Commander-in-Chief met with five wounded-in-action soldiers and the family of killed-in-action military personnel at Cauayan Airport.

President Duterte arrived at the airport around 5 pm and was received by Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Captain Jim Sydiongco, and Northern Luzon Command head Lieutenant General Emmanuel Salamat.

The President awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kampilan to Sergeant Rafael Camaddu, Staff Sergeant Roderick Austria, Private Murphy Cuntapay, Private Jhoven Gangano, and Private Mark Anthony Cabangbang.

The five awarded soldiers were wounded in separate encounters with the New People’s Army and the Abu Sayyaf Group in Isabela, Cagayan, and Sulu.

He then posthumously awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kalasag to Corporal Albert Maramag who was killed during an encounter with the New People’s Army in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on March 2.

The award was received by the slain soldier’s mother, Estelita, together with his two brothers, Corporal Jeffrey Maramag and Private Arvin Maramag, and cousin Private Adrian Maramag.

President Duterte offered condolences to the family and told them that the government is willing to help them should they need more assistance. (PND)