Government prosecutors will seek from the courts the issuance of precautionary hold departure orders (HDO) to prevent suspects in the rape-slay of flight attendant Christine Dacera from leaving the country, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

“If the evidence is substantial enough, the prosecutor may request the proper court for the issuance of a precautionary HDO pending inquest or preliminary investigation, as the case may be,” Guevarra said.

Precautionary HDOs may be sought from the courts while criminal complaints are undergoing preliminary investigation before prosecution offices.

It is different from HDOs which are issued once charges have been filed by prosecutors in courts.

While no precautionary HDOs have been sought yet, Guevarra said he could have the suspects placed in the immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO).

“We have to await the formal filing of a complaint by the police, so that we’ll have a basis for the issuance of a travel alert, or an ILBO upon request of any interested party,” he explained.

Dacera, a 23-year-old flight attendant of Philippine Airlines (PAL), was found dead in the bathtub of her hotel room last Jan. 1 following a New Year’s celebration.

She was last seen alive with a group of men during a New Year’s eve party in Makati City.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) already has in custody three of the suspects who were identified as identified as John Pascual Dela Serna III, 27; Rommel Daluro Galido, 29; and John Paul Reyes Halili, 25.

However, nine other suspects remain at large and were identified as Gregorio Angelo de Guzman, Louie de Lima, Clark Jezreel Rapinan, Rey Englis, Mark Anthony Rosales, Jammyr Cunanan, Valentine Rosales, a certain Ed Madrid; and a certain Paul.

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas has already warned the nine at large suspects to surrender or face a manhunt.