(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the killing of 16-year-old Christine Silawan.
Guevarra gave the order in Department Order No. 117 dated March 15.
In ordering the NBI to also conduct a case build-up, Guevarra cited Republic Act No. 10867 or the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act, which gives him the authority to do the same “when public interest so requires.”
“Further, (NBI) Director (Dante) Gierran is hereby directed to submit reports on the progress of the subject investigation and case build-up directly to the Office of the Secretary,” he said.
The police are conducting their own investigation into the slay, and have said they have identified one suspect.
Silawan’s body was found in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu on Monday, March 11.
The police said she had been stabbed multiple times, and her head had been skinned, exposing her skull.
They said her tongue, trachea, among others, were also missing.