Psychologist: Don’t make assumptions on girl’s death

CEBU, Philippines — While the killing of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan sparks outrage, a clinical psychologist urged the public not to make assumptions on the cause of death so as not to sow fear and panic.

Cebu Normal University professor, Dr. Emmanuel Hernani, said information coming out that Christine’s death is due to cult violence or serial killing is baseless for now, as the police are yet to arrest suspects and conclude their investigation.

“They are hypotheses we can derive from the incident in Lapu-Lapu City, considering its gruesome nature,” Hernani said.

“It will be better if we wait for the results of the investigation. The public for now should not panic and remain vigilant,” he added.

Christine was found lifeless at a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City last Monday, the gruesome way by which she was killed – stabbed 20 times, her face skinned, and some body parts hulled out – sparked outrage and condemnation.

Cults

The police also said earlier they do not believe that Christine’s death is related to the death of a 62-year-old farmer in January whose face was also skinned.

The incident happened in Danao City.

The suspects in the farmer’s death, brothers Junrey, Jovie, and Jonas Bueno, were said to be members of a cult but the police could not say if skinning was part of their ritual.

Junrey and Jovie were killed in a police operation while Jonas is reportedly hiding the mountains of Danao.

Hernani said that should it be proven that Christine’s death is cult related, her case would perhaps be the first in the country because cult activities here, particularly in Cebu, are elusive compared to those in other countries.

So far, he said, cult attacks in Cebu are considered urban legends in the absence of evidence of killing in patterns as part of ritual.

He said most of the behaviors of cult members lean on emphasizing or exaggerating practices. This can translate to praying to a specific time among others.

“It’s more than two people who share the same practice and beliefs. That way, it can be called a cult,” he said.

He said most cult members are distinguishable because of their appearance like growing a beard of wearing amulets.

He said it is possible that cults resort to violence as part of initiation of members.

“They may resort to violence, inflict self-harm or other violent behaviors… harming others aside from themselves,” Hernani said.

Trigger

Hernani said that while skinning may be common in other countries, those who do it are not necessarily members of cults. Those who do it are usually serial killers.

“It’s common in other countries – skinning people – but most of them do not do it for the cult. Usually, they are serial killers with pathological problems,” he said.

He said that serial killers border in sociopathy or psychopathy or those who may not have shown any sign that they are capable of murder. However, due to their inner battle to act on impulses, they commit unthinkable crimes.

“Most sociopaths and psychopaths are intelligence and successful people, if you would talk to them very coherent, however, a part of them cannot control their urges and act on their impulse,” Hernani said.  —  JMO (FREEMAN)