NBI eyed to step in to probe Dacera rape-slay
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been tapped to assist in the autopsy of rape-slay victim Christine Dacera, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday (Jan. 6).
“The NBI forensic medicine team is presently providing assistance to and coordinating with the PNP Makati SOCO (Philippine National Police Makati’s Scene of the Crime Office) to determine the true cause of death of Christine Dacera,” the secretary said.
The Dacera’s family had earlier sought for another autopsy of the victim to prove that she did not die from natural causes.
Reports say that the initial autopsy report indicated, aside from having contusions and abrasions, Dacera’s cause of death has been ruptured aortic aneurysm.
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 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.
For his part, Guevarra has assured that he will have the still at large 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,” said Guevarra.
“If the evidence is substantial enough, the prosecutor may request the proper court for the issuance of a precautionary HDO (hold departure order) pending inquest or preliminary investigation, as the case may be,” he added.