THE PUBLIC Attorney’s Office (PAO) will continue to investigate the brutal killing of 16-year-old Christine Silawan after noting a “conflict” between the findings in the separate probes of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). PAO Forensic Team chief Erwin P. Erfe said the NBI presented “circumstantial” evidence while the police provided two eye witnesses. The NBI, which already filed a case, relied mainly on the digital footprint of the suspects, Mr. Erfe told reporters. “Gusto natin palakasin ang kaso (We just want to strengthen the case),” he added. He also noted that contrary to the statement of the eye witness that Ms. Silawan was raped, the autopsy report of the medico legal did not support this. “So we are trying to piece (together) every evidence that we could get into,” he said. Ms. Silawan was found dead in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last March 11 with the skin on a part of her face peeled-off. PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta said the family of the victim asked her office for assistance last March 14. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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