Cebu teen slay suspect charged for similar crime in Danao City

DAVAO CITY – The person of interest in the gruesome murder of a 16-year old girl in Lapu Lapu City last week was  charged and arrested for the murder last January of  a 60-year old woman in Danao City, whose face, like the recent victim,  was likewise mutilated and skinned.

Jonas Martel Bueno, 24, who was arrested by a composite team from the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation – Southern Mindanao in Barangay Matina Crossing Guadalupe here Friday afternoon, was charged for the murder of the 60-year old Trinidad Batucan in Danao City early this year, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group  – Davao chief, said.

Driz said Bueno remains a person of interest in the murder of  Christine Silawan, who mutilated body was found on a vacant lot in Lapu Lapu City half naked and with some internal organs missing.

Bueno was arrested based on the arrest warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of the regional trial court branch 25 in Danao City, Cebu.

Bueno  was reportedly working in a construction project in Matina Pangi village here for several days prior to Friday’s arrest.

His live-in-partner, Connie Nacion, told local reporters the they had been staying with a relative in Barangay Matina for several weeks now and that he could not have been involved in Silawan’s killing.

Bueno is under police custody. /gsg