Three Child Murders in Cebu Reveal Disturbing Pattern of Luring and Violence
In a series of horrific crimes spanning over a decade, three minors in Cebu have been murdered after being lured by suspects, with the latest case involving a brutal beheading in Toledo City. The victims, all children aged 6, 12, and 16, were killed years apart, their bodies found in states of extreme violence that shocked communities and raised questions about safety and justice.
The Victims: A Timeline of Tragedy
The most recent victim, Crystal Joy Lagaras Abarquez, 12, a Grade 6 student, was found dead on February 19, 2026, in a forested area of Toledo City. She had disappeared eight days earlier, on February 11. Her head was severed and dumped near a tree in Sitio Pajo, Barangay Cabitoonan, with her decomposing body tied to the tree using a shoelace around her neck. Personal belongings, including her school bag, were discovered nearby, painting a grim scene of a life cut short.
Earlier, on March 11, 2019, the body of Christine Lee Silawan, 16, a high school student, was found dumped on a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City. She was naked from the waist down, having been raped—confirmed by forensics tests from the Public Attorney's Office—and suffered multiple stab wounds. Her face was mutilated beyond recognition, with reports indicating acid or a sharp knife was used to skin it, adding to the brutality of the crime.
Going back to 2011, Ellah Joy Pique, 6, of Minglanilla, Cebu, was kidnapped on February 8 while walking home from school with friends. She accepted a ride from a couple in a Pajero, a Filipina and a foreigner, and was found dead the next day. Her naked body, wrapped in a white bedsheet with three large stones, was thrown off a cliff in Barili town, about 45 kilometers from her home. She died from heavy blows to the head, with dark bruises covering her upper body.
How the Victims Were Lured: A Common Thread
In each case, the victims were persuaded to go with their assailants, highlighting a pattern of consensual interaction that turned deadly. Crystal Joy Abarquez was seen on CCTV footage riding a motorcycle driven by her cousin, Rowell Lagaras Villapina Jr., 27, a mechanic, after being promised a ride for an errand or a casual outing. This led her to a remote sitio where she met her tragic end.
Christine Lee Silawan became friends with her self-confessed killer, Renato "Renren" Llenes, through Facebook under the dummy account "CJ Diaz." She agreed to a physical meet-up, which ended in her murder. Llenes, 43 at the time, confessed to using scissors to stab her and scrape skin off her face, claiming influence from illegal drugs and mimicking a "Momo challenge" method. He later denied the crime during arraignment and reportedly hanged himself in jail, leaving the case considered solved but with lingering doubts.
Ellah Joy Pique was induced to hitch a ride with a couple, leading to her kidnapping and murder. Police noted that all three cases involved non-forced accompaniment, underscoring the vulnerability of children to manipulation by trusted or seemingly harmless individuals.
Case Statuses: Solved, Unsolved, and Forgotten
As of now, only one of the three murders remains officially unsolved: the Ellah Joy Pique case. However, it has long been archived and forgotten, recalled only when similar atrocities occur. On October 8, 2014, the Regional Trial Court acquitted Bella Ruby Santos, accused of kidnapping and murder, due to insufficient evidence linking her to the crime. Her boyfriend, Charles Griffiths, the alleged companion and driver, had left the country, escaping jurisdiction.
The Christine Silawan case is considered solved after Llenes's confession and subsequent death, though initial suspects included her boyfriend, who was later cleared. The latest murder, Crystal Joy Abarquez's beheading, has moved beyond the whodunit stage under PNP rules, which deem a case solved when evidence is sufficient, the suspect is identified and in custody, and charges are filed. Toledo City police are nearing this point, but public demand for answers extends beyond suspect identification to understanding the motive behind such a heinous act.
These tragedies highlight ongoing concerns about child safety, the effectiveness of justice systems, and the need for vigilance in communities. The pattern of luring and brutality serves as a stark reminder of the dangers children face, even from those they know or meet online.
