Probe on Dacera case to focus on forensic evidence
The investigation on the circumstances that led to the death of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera will be continued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) even after the Makati City Prosecutors Office ordered the release of the people tagged as suspects for insufficient evidence on the case of rape with homicide.
Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said what happened only bolstered the determination of the police to further look into the case to shed light on the incident.
He, however, admitted that the case filed by the Makati City Police does not stand on a firm ground when he pored over the documents submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office.
“If you compare it to mangoes, we can say that it is still raw. I am not really convinced, (after I) I read the documents, but it was already filed. The case was filed apparently due to the eagerness of the police to file the case immediately,” said Danao.
Apparently, the Makati City Police immediately filed the case in order for them to continue holding the three suspects whom they earlier detained over the belief that Dacera was raped and killed.
The Makati City Police and PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas earlier said that they were convinced that Dacera was raped, citing bruises, laceration and ‘fluid’ found on her body. The autopsy report, however, stated that she died of aortic aneurysm.
“Nonetheless, that should not be a reason for us to stop the investigation because what is important is for us to find out the cause of death,” said Danao.
For a start, Danao said what should be looked at is the effect of consuming a lot of alcohol, noting that the initial investigation revealed that the partygoers consumed several bottles of liquor of different brands during the New Year party at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City.
While there has been no proof so far that illegal drugs were used, he said this is something that should also be looked into.
“That is why the result of the toxicology (test) is very important because our focus now is more on forensic evidence. The cause could be heavy drinking coupled with illegal drugs, possibly party drugs because as we have seen, it was a rave party,” said Danao.
“So it could really cause an aneurysm as what some doctors told me. That could be one of the causes, heavy drinking coupled with illegal drugs,” he added.
Danao said that he also welcomed the decision of the Dacera family to have her subjected to a second autopsy.