Girl’s 'killer' found dead in jail

CEBU, Philippines —  The primary suspect in the killing of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan was found dead in his cell at the male dormitory of the Lapu-Lapu City Jail Sunday morning, Jail Supt. Jessie Calumpang confirmed yesterday.

Calumpang said it was around 6 a.m. Sunday when he was informed by a nurse that the suspect, Renato Llenes, 42, was rushed to the clinic after he was found lifeless in the restroom inside his cell in what appeared to be a suicide. 

"Pag-adto nako, pag-check nako, naa tuy improvised nga pisi nga gihimo nga gigamit… katong mga uniform nila mga PDL, katong yellow, gigunting ba, then gilukot," Calumpang said.

(When I went to check, there was an improvised string made of pieces of cloth from the uniform of persons deprived of liberty.)

Calumpang said they had to move Llenes away from other inmates since he reportedly received death threats from Silawan’s uncle who is also detained at the facility.

Llenes was isolated with three other inmates.

Calumpang said they are now investigating the possibility of a foul play because the condition in which Llenes was found did not seem to reflect the condition of other inmates who also committed suicide by hanging – tongue protruding from the mouth and clothes soiled by vomit.

"Kato sya, wala gagawas iyang dila ug wala sad bisag laway nalang sa sanina niya," Calumpang said.

(In Llenes’ case, his tongue did not protrude from his mouth and there was not even a drop of saliva on his clothes.)

Aside from this, Calumpang said it seemed suspicious that none of the inmates Llenes was isolated with was aware of the supposed suicide, especially that the cell is small. 

Llenes’ remains will undergo autopsy, Calumpang said.

"Syempre, pag-struggle ato nga matuok ba sya, mu-produce gyud sya ug sound, mag kisi-kisi gyud sya didto sa CR… nya gamay ra gud to," Calumpang said.

(Of course, he would have produced a sound when he was struggling if he indeed hanged himself)

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro himself ordered an in-depth investigation into the incident.

Calumpang said they have already informed Llanes’ family of what happened.

Llenes, a resident of Tigcahon, Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City, was arrested on April 11, 2019. He confessed to have been obsessed with Silawan whom he mauled and skinned after having caught in a heated argument during their meet-up.

Silawan’s body was found at a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City in March 2019. JMO (FREEMAN)