Suspect in Cebu teen slay arrested in Davao

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)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The suspect in the brutal killing of Cebu teen Christine Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City on Monday was arrested in Matina, Davao City on Friday afternoon.

Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confirmed to the Inquirer by phone that Jonas Bueno was arrested in a joint operation conducted by their agency, the National Bureau of Investigation-XI, and the Mindanao Area Intelligence Office.

Bueno, 24, identified as the suspect in the grisly killing of the 16-year-old church worker, reportedly fled to Davao City after the crime to work in a construction project in Matina Pangi village here several days before his arrest on Friday.

The suspect is now under police custody.

Different groups have raised at least P2 million for the arrest of the suspect in Silawan’s gruesome murder. /ee

READ: Cebu teenager’s slay: Precise mutilation shocks, baffles authorities