Dacera family asks for Duterte’s help in seeking justice for Christine


GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Relatives of the late flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera has appealed for help from President Duterte as they maintained that the victim was sexually abused and killed while attending a New Year’s eve party with friends at a hotel in Makati City.

Sharon Dacera, the victim’s mother, sought the help of Duterte to give justice for the death of her daughter whose remains arrived in the city from Manila on Thursday.

Talking to reporters at a local funeral parlor where the her daughter’s remains were taken, Dacera said they have witnesses and pieces of evidence to prove that her daughter was sexually abused as she called on the other suspects who remain at-large to come out and shed light on the incident.

Dacera’s statements came amid the order of the prosecution to release from police custody the three suspects for lack of sufficient evidence to support the case for rape with homicide filed by the Makati police against them and several other suspects.

Makati City Prosecutor Dindo Venturanza ordered the release on Wednesday of suspects, John Pascual dela Serna, Rommel Galido and John Paul Halili after the prosecutors found insufficient evidence to establish that Dacera was sexually assaulted and, if homicide or rape were indeed committed, who were likely responsible for it.

“In the same matter, the evidence is also insufficient to prove the exact cause of death of the deceased. No evidence medically or scientifically was presented to prove that the cause of death or the rupture of aortic aneurysm was by reason of the alleged rape,” the resolution read.

The prosecutor also noted that the police have yet to submit the results of DNA analysis, toxicology/chemical analysis and histopath (tissue) examination.

The prosecutor set the preliminary investigation on the case on January 13.

Dacera said their lawyers will be submitting additional forensic evidence and witnesses to prove that the victim was sexually abused and killed.

Dacera said the family and their lawyers subscribed to the decision of the prosecutors who ordered the temporary release of the suspects but it does not mean that that they were already absolved rom the case.