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MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation will carry out its own investigation into the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera, as questions were raised about allegations that she was raped and murdered after a New Year’s Eve party at a hotel in La Makati city.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday ordered the NBI officer in charge, Eric Distor, to launch the investigation seven days after Dacera was pronounced dead upon arrival at Makati Medical Center on January 1.
Guevarra said he issued the warrant because the “initial investigation by the Makati police was not thorough enough” and that was why the Makati city prosecutors released the three arrested suspects.
He said the NBI wanted to secure “full forensic test results” before releasing its own autopsy findings on Dacera’s remains.
“The longer it takes to examine the remains of the deceased and gather pieces of other evidence, the more difficult it becomes to establish the true cause of death and identify anyone responsible … if a crime was indeed committed,” he added.
Makati City prosecutors released the three suspects allegedly because police did not present sufficient evidence to show that Dacera was sexually abused or murdered, although the Philippine National Police chief himself, General Debold Sinas, concluded that the case it was rape even before the autopsy was performed. on the 23 year old flight attendant.
Although investigators are still awaiting the results of the DNA analysis, toxicology and histopathology examination, the police only performed an autopsy after the body had already been embalmed.
Premature conclusion
Due to the premature termination of the police, the 11 persons of interest, who were with Dacera that night, were put on trial for publicity on social media.
The missteps led Dacera’s family, who were initially told their loved one was raped and murdered, to commission a second autopsy.
The police’s premature conclusion of a “rape-murder” also prompted two lawmakers, ACT CIS Rep. Eric Go Yap and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
But Yap withdrew the P100,000 it offered as a reward on Friday as the suspects were already cooperating with police.
But Iloilo’s representative, Janette Garin, lamented how the police mishandled the case, saying that the statements “should not be given without proper autopsy results and forensic pathology investigation because it becomes confusing for investigators, media of communication and our people “.
“We need a platform to combine science and legality. We need to protect victims and their families from public scrutiny, ”Garin said.
Garin said he will seek to establish a proper death investigation system and provide the necessary support to strengthen forensic pathology in the country.
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