PNP stands by finding Silawan wasn’t raped

CEBU, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory - 7 is standing by its finding that no injury was found near the vaginal area of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan during autopsy.

The autopsy was conducted on March 11, the same day Silawan’s body was found in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City.

"All I'm saying is in my examination of the fresh cadaver, there was no recent injury noted on the genitalia. Having examined several rape cases before, rape slaying and rape cases, makikita mo naman talaga ang hematoma, ang abrasion, it will be visible," chief medico-legal officer Benjamin Lara told reporters yesterday.

A DNA test conducted by the PNP also did not find traces of another person’s DNA on Silawan’s vaginal area.

Lara explained his findings almost a week after a forensic examiner of the Public Attorney’s Office, Dr. Erwin Erfe, said that Silawan was raped as evidenced by the multiple hematoma found around her private part.

Erfe said that they used macro photographic lens during re-autopsy on March 22.

PAO chief Percida Acosta said they will use their expert’s findings in prosecuting the main suspect, Silawan’s former boyfriend.

“We have evidence to prove she was raped,” Acosta said.

For his part, National Bureau of Investigation -7 Director Tomas Enrile said they will stand by Lara’s findings, which they have attached to the murder complaint they have filed against the suspect.

The NBI and the PNP coordinated in the investigation of the case, but it was the NBI that arrested the suspect, an operation that the boy’s lawyer is questioning.

Meanwhile, Lara agreed to Erfe’s findings that there may have been corrosive attack due to the traces on the face that had been burnt. However, the cornea in her face was not burnt, which made Lara rule out an acid attack.

When she was found on March 11, half of Silawan’s face was skinned with her tongue, esophagus, and trachea hulled out. She succumbed to 20 stab wounds. (FREEMAN)