MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday said he ordered the police to find the culprits behind the gruesome murder of a 16-year-old high school student in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
"Itong pumatay na ito, 'yung babae, sabi kasi ng ano, mga pulis kulto-kulto (Those who killed the girl, police said, are members of a cult). Sabi ko, 'hanapin ninyo 'yan (I said: 'search those people). Yung binalatan 'yung ano, sabi ko drugs [yan] (The fact she was skinned is indicative of drug influence)," Duterte said in his speech during the campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Cauayan City, Isabela.
The President condemned different assault cases, particularly rape incidents where the victims were minors.
"Sa aming panahon, may nire-rape (During our time, there were rape victims). Eh biro mo -- that’s a crime that goes with humanity. (That is) Biology ‘yan eh," he said.
"Pero ngayon kita mo naman (but now you see it), bata ni-rape, rape-in (rape) ‘yung (children are being raped) five-year-old na bata ng pari (by priests). Tapos, kahapon may pinatay, binalatan ‘yung mukha (Yesterday someone was killed and her face was skinned). Tapos, ‘yung iba, (others are) four months old. Iyong nag-rape ng four months old, patay na ‘yun (The one who raped the four-month old is now dead). Mauna ka sa impiyerno (Go to hell first). Iyong human rights, baka hindi niyo alam (you might not know). You try to dig into the case and you’d find that my revulsion sa ganun," he continued.
Duterte reiterated his warning against people who commit these crimes and who are involved in illegal drugs.
"Do not destroy my country, either by drugs or by committing rampant criminality because I will kill you," he said.
"And do not feed my children and my neighbors' children with shabu o kung anong drugs man...ecstasy... because I will kill you. And that is a warning to everybody," he added.
The victim in Cebu was identified as Christine Lee Silawan, a student of Maribago High School and was first reported missing by her mother after she failed to return home from serving as a collector in church on Sunday.
On March 11 (Monday), her body was found half-naked in a vacant lot in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bankal in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. The teenager was skinned to the skull and suffered multiple stab wounds.
Investigation on Silawan's case is still ongoing. (PNA)
