Summary
Highlights
On March 11, 2019, the body of 16-year-old Christine Silawan was found in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Her face had been skinned, and her tongue and throat were missing, alongside numerous stab wounds. Her mother, Lourdes, identified her through her clothing and birthmarks, having searched for her all night after Christine failed to return home from church the previous day, March 10.
Christine was a cheerful, kind, and devout Grade 9 student who dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. She was known for her dedication to the church, where she volunteered to collect offerings, and was considered a good daughter who always asked permission before leaving home.
The autopsy revealed Christine died around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, suffering nearly thirty stab wounds and signs of sexual assault. Her skinned face and missing organs led to speculation that either an animal had consumed them or it was a deliberate act to hinder identification. The widespread mutilation suggested extreme anger from the perpetrator, and initial motives considered by authorities included a crime of passion, a psychological maniac, or a cult ritual.
CCTV footage showed Christine walking with an unidentified man after mass, suggesting she was comfortable with him. Initially, Jonas Bueno, involved in a similar 'face-skinning' crime, was arrested but later released due to an alibi. Christine's 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, 'John,' was then arrested based on a theory that he used a fake 'CJ Diaz' account to lure her, but he was later released due to lack of admissible evidence.
Renato Llenes, a 43-year-old with five children, was arrested for illegal firearms possession and initially confessed to killing Christine. He claimed he used the 'CJ Diaz' fake account, lured Christine to meet him, and became enraged when she rejected him due to his age and her having a boyfriend. Llenes confessed to stabbing her with scissors and skinning her face, claiming inspiration from an internet challenge and a desire to prevent identification. However, inconsistencies emerged, including conflicting DNA evidence on bloodstains found on John's shoes and the body frames seen in CCTV footage not matching Llenes. Christine's family doubted Llenes was the sole perpetrator, especially after the Public Attorney's Office forensic examination suggested acid might have been used on her face.
The case against John was dismissed due to weak evidence. Renato Llenes was charged with murder and attempted rape but was found dead in his jail cell on May 24, 2020, allegedly by suicide after receiving threats. With Llenes' death, the Philippine National Police declared the case 'closed,' leaving Christine's family and many others with lingering doubts about whether true justice was served and if all perpetrators were identified.