Curious onlookers surround the body of Christine Lee Silawan, who was found with half of her face skinned in an empty lot in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City. (Contributed photo by JAYBOY D. DONAIRE via Cebu Daily News)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima on Wednesday condemned the brutal killing of a Grade 9 student Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, which she called a “work of the devil.”
The student was found dead last Monday morning, half-naked with half of her face skinned.
Silawan was said to have died due to multiple stab wounds and experts found several of her organs missing.
“This is killing in one of its worst forms. Appalling and shocking! Walang konsensya ang gumawa ng ganitong karumal-dumal at kalunos-lunos na krimen,” De Lima said in a statement. “Wala silang respeto sa buhay, walang pakundangan sa dignidad ng tao! Gawa ng demonyo!”
[They have no respect for life, no reverence for human dignity. It’s the work of the devil.
She urged the police to thoroughly investigate the crime not only to give justice to the victim but also to prevent a repeat of the offense.
“Our police authorities should not rest while her killers remain scot-free,” she said. “Kung hindi natin seseryosohin ang pagresolba sa kasong tulad nito, mauulit at mauulit lang ang pagpaslang sa mga batang kagaya ni Christine – na pinagkaitang mabuhay at makasama pa ang mga mahal nila sa buhay.”
[If we are not serious in resolving a case like this, many young people like Christine will be killed – they will be deprived of life and the opportunity to be with their loved ones longer.]
De Lima also said the death of Silawan should remind President Rodrigo Duterte that his public and blatant encouragement of killings put Filipino lives in grave danger.
“Ilang inosenteng buhay pa ba ang masasayang bago matauhan si Mr. Duterte na kailangan na niyang tigilan ang paghihikayat at pagpapauso sa mga patayan sa ating bayan?” the senator said.
[How many more human lives will have to go waste before Mr. Duterte learns that he has to stop encouraging killings in our country?]
“This heartless regime has given people the license to kill, and this madness has to stop now. Unfortunately, life has become so cheap in our country that some people do not have qualms anymore to threaten and harm others,” she added.
De Lima noted that it had become extremely urgent for the public to express their outrage over the recent killings and demand accountability.
“As we remember Christine and all the other victims of killings under this regime, let us also remember the need to stand up and protect human rights and morality in our nation,” she said. /atm
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