BREAKING: DNA samples from scissors in Silawan slay match suspect — PNP

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, on March 11, 2019. (Contributed photo by JAYBOY D. DONAIRE via Cebu Daily News)

MANILA, Philippines — The DNA samples taken from the scissors used in the murder of Cebu teen Christine Lee Silawan matched self-confessed perpetrator Renato Llenes, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed Wednesday.

“DNA exam on the pair of scissors revealed positive findings of DNA presence of both victim Christine Lee Silawan and suspect Renato Llenes in the said scissors,” disclosed PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac in a text message. The DNA examination was conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Llenes, 42, of Lapu-Lapu City previously confessed he used a pair of scissors to stab Silawan more than 30 times in the different parts of her body. He also said he used the same scissors to peel the skin off Silawan’s face.

READ: Police to file murder charge vs Llenes; Christine’s mom wants ex-boyfriend included in case

The half-naked corpse of 16-year-old Silawan was found abandoned on a vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal in Lapu-Lapu Cebu on March 11. Half of her face was gone while her organs in the neck were removed. 

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

Aside from Llenes, Silawan’s ex-boyfriend was also eyed as one of the suspects in the murder of the teenager.

National Bureau of Investigation-7 (NBI-7) said the arrest of Llenes will not affect the murder case they filed before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutors Office against the 18-year-old ex-boyfriend of Silawan.

Tomas Enrile, director of the NBI-7, confirmed that the ex-boyfriend was seen in a closed-circuit television footage together with Silawan in a subdivision in Maribago. /kga, je

READ: Albayalde: Investigation of Christine Silawan murder case far from over