Teen suspect in Silawan killing to be put back to DSWD custody

The teen suspect was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents last March 16 in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City. He was released on March 23, the same day Silawan was buried. (File photo: Debbie Jane Bancale)

The 17-year-old suspect in the gruesome killing of Christine Silawan, whose body was found half-naked and her face skinned, will be sent back today to a care facility of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This, according to lawyer Vincent Isles, the suspect’s legal counsel, in a phone interview with DZMM on Thursday, March 28.

“We have decided with the mother that we will voluntarily commit to a child care facility,” Isles said, adding that they will retrieve the minor from a safe house where he was put in and commit him to a home care facility in Lapu-Lapu City later on Thursday.

This development came after President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he ordered the re-arrest of the suspect who is Silawan’s ex-boyfriend.

“Sabi ko i-recall mo ‘yang order ninyo of dismissal (I told him to recall their order of dismissal) and have the guy re-arrested,” Duterte earlier said.

“‘Di ako papayag ganunin ang bata. Binalatan mo ang bata, mahuli ka ilang days tapos palayain? Imposible ang hot pursuit na 24 hours lang (I won’t allow them to do that to the child. He skinned the child, he was arrested for a few days and later on he was released? It is impossible to have a hot pursuit within 24 hours only). Six days it’s still hot pursuit,” he added.

[READ: Duterte wants 17-year-old suspect in Silawan slay re-arrested]

Sought for a comment on the Chief Executive’s remarks, Isles said he believes that Duterte might have been “misadvised” or “misinformed” about the case.

“Perhaps he has been informed that this was a proper warrantless arrest. But there has been a preliminary finding by the Office of the Prosecutor of Lapu-Lapu City that it did not fall under the valid warrantless arrest,” the lawyer told DZMM

“I’m not sure if he had read the entire case folder and I’m very sure he has no time for that so ang umabot sa kanya ‘yun ang summary ng mga tauhan niya (what reached him is the summary of his men). And if he had read the entire case folder, I’m very sure he would realize na hindi ‘to (that this is not a) valid warrantless arrest and the Office of the Prosecutor of Lapu-Lapu City is correct,” he continued.

The teen suspect was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents last March 16 in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City. He was released on March 23, the same day Silawan was buried.

The Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of the suspect, pointing out that the warrantless arrest by the NBI was invalid.

The NBI has filed a motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the prosecutor’s decision, which Isles said they will contest, saying, “We will also file an opposition to it.”