NBI arrests suspect in killing of Lapu-Lapu schoolgirl

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities on Monday arrested a 17-year-old boy believed to be one of the perpetrators in the killing of a schoolgirl in Lapu-Lapu City earlier this month.

The FREEMAN reported that National Bureau of Investigation Region 7 Director Tomas Enrile confirmed the arrest.

NBI-7 director Atty. Tomas Enrile confirmed that they have arrested a 17-year-old as one of the suspects in the gruesome killing of Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City last week. | via Fred Languino/The Freeman pic.twitter.com/1xarQKZnPx

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) March 18, 2019

The report said that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed that the suspect was with the victim 30 minutes before the body was discovered.

Enrile, quoted from an interview with radio RMN, added that they are eyeing jealousy as motive behind the killing.

The student’s body was discovered in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City on March 11. She was found naked from the waist down, and her body bore multiple stab wounds. A local crime laboratory also said that some of her organs were missing.

LATEST: PRO-7 Director Debold Sinas is at the NBI-7 office as of this posting to compare notes and update their probe on gruesome slay of Christine Silawan. This after a 17-year-old suspect was arrested in his house in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Saturday. | via @mylenmanto pic.twitter.com/Opn8GMGJvy

— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) March 18, 2019

Jonas Bueno arrest

Last Friday, members of the Philippine National Police arrested Jonas Bueno, initially linked to the schoolgirl's case, in Barangay Matina Pangi in Davao City.

Camp Crame later clarified that Bueno was nabbed for the killing of a 60-year-old farmer in Trinidad Batucan, Danao City Cebu.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas said that the killing of the farmer and the teenage girl were similar.

Bueno is believed to be a member of a cult. The STAR reported that he admitted to participating in killings but denied that he is the perpetrator of the schoolgirl’s gruesome murder.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators behind the girl’s slay. — Kristine Joy Patag with a report from The FREEMAN/Fred Languino