A curfew for minors will now be strictly implemented in Lapu-Lapu City. Mayor Paz Radaza said the move is aimed in curbing juvenile crime and victimization of youth in the city. The Mayor however clarified that the the city is still generally peaceful and the incident on the killing of 16 year-old Christine Lee Silawan was “isolated.” Silawan’s alleged attacker, her ex-boyfriend, was also a minor like her, 17. They were schoolmates. “I have even limited the permits for discos, the barangay officials concerned should strengthen the implementation of curfew, its very urgent,” Radaza said in a mix of Cebuano and English in a press conference yesterday in her office.
As first responders, the barangay officials of the 30 barangays in the city is expected to implement it. City Ordinance No. 179-2009 prohibits minors to wonder, stray, saunter, loiter or ramble on any public road, park, plaza, wharf, public market, beach, disco pub, karaoke bar or any other public places between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Under the ordinance the parents of minors caught for the violation will be fined P1,000 for the first offense. The next offense will be a fine of P2,500 while the third offense is punishable with imprisonment of five to 20 days depending on the discretion of the Court. Meanwhile, Radaza believed that that the 17 year old did not do it alone.
The Mayor revealed that the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) is still making a follow-up on the case to determine the actual number of persons who commited the crime. Radaza said that the LCPO under City Director Colonel Lemuel Obon had made headway on their investigation and has been closely coordinating with the NBI (Capt. Mariejin Encio, the spokesperson of the Special Investigation Task Group-Silawan has announced however that the task group has been deactivated as the NBI will already be the lead agency in the investigation of the crime). Radaza said she still has trust and confidence in the city police whom she described to have performed well.
She rated their performance at 8-9, from a range of 1 being the lowest and 10 as the highest. “They are at 8-9. You should really trust on your police, you should coordinate with them,” Radaza said. Radaza said she is even planning to provide the LCPO with equipment that would enhance their investigation capabilities. The NBI got a breakthrough on their investigation when they enhanced a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage in the Pajac Barangay Hall where Silawan was approached by the boy in the vicinity of Sacred Heart Church. The same CCTV footage was reviewed first by the LCPO investigators which however did not pursue it because the images were not clear.
The NBI used its modern technique called Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) manned by its cybercrime division agents where they confirmed that Silawan and the boy were together as seen on the CCTV footage. The OSINT technique also did a technical surveillance and examination on a Facebook account traced to the 17 year-old which was connected to Silawan’s account proving their communication and chats as having a “romantic relationship.”
The boy who is now facing murder charge in relation to violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175) may have extreme jealousy on the victim as prior to the incident last March 10, Christine was seen by the accused eating “balut” with another person near the church where the victim just served in its mass as alms collector. As seen on the CCTV, the ex-boyfriend walked with Silawan up to a subdivision past 6 pm in Barangay Bankal where Silawan’s corpse was found in a grassy lot near to it the day after.
The two broke-up in February but had agreed to meet as indicated in their communication traced by the NBI agents. Silawan’s face was skinned to the bone. She was half naked from the waist down. The victim suffered 30 stab wounds and some of her body parts were missing.
About The Author
More Stories
Skills and Speed vs. Brute Power in “Engkwentro 11” at the Hoops Dome tonite
RP Blu Girls Gear Up for the World Cup
Jimenez, foe make weight for tonite’s Cebuano Youngbloods boxing in Talisay City