Stung by conscience, Christine Silawan murder suspect yields – PNP chief

PNP chief Oscar Albayalde (center) presents a 43-year-old man (in orange shirt) who gave himself up and claimed that he murdered Cebu teenager Christine Silawan. SCREENGRAB FROM CEBU DAILY NEWS VIDEO

MANILA,  Philippines — “Haunted by his conscience,”  a 43-year-old man gave himself up to the police and confessed to the murder of Cebu teenager Christine Silawan.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde made that revelation when he presented the suspect, identified only as “Renren,” at the headquarters of the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) in Cebu City on Thursday.

“Assisted by two lawyers on April 9, 2019, alias Renren voluntarily narrated his involvement in the killing of Christine Silawan because he was haunted by his conscience,” Albayalde said in a press briefing.

On April 9, 2019, Albayalde said the suspect, assisted by two lawyers, executed an extra-judicial confession.

Reading from Renren’s confession, Albayalde said the suspect confessed killing Silawan on March 10 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. using a scissor.

Albayalde then said Renren admitted that he was obsessed with Christine. On the night she was killed, based on Renren’s statement, he and Silawan had an argument which prompted him to stab her.

Seized from Renren were .45-caliber pistol and six live bullets.

READ: Another suspect in Silawan murder case now under police custody

Silawan, 16, was found dead on March 11, in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal with her body half-naked and her face skinned to the bone. /cbb/ac

READ: Body of 16-year-old church collector whose face was skinned found in Lapu-Lapu City