The Philippine National Police (PNP) has asked the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office to re-open the preliminary investigation of the rape with homicide case it filed on the Jan. 1 death of flight attendant Christine Angelica F. Dacera.
(Instagram / FILE PHOTO)
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Sunday, March 14, said the PNP request was made when the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office was about to release the resolution on the PNP complaint filed against 11 men.
“Kaya lang nag-request ang PNP na muling buksan yun kaso dahil may ihahabol daw sila additional evidence” (However, the PNP sought the re-opening of the case because they wanted to submit additional evidence), Guevarra said.
Last Friday, March 12, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal complaints against a PNP medico legal officer and 10 other persons on Dacera’s death.
Charged with falsification of official document was Maj. Michael Nick W. Sarmiento who conducted the initial autopsy.
Also charged were Mark Anthony Rosales, Darwin Joseph Macalla, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Alain Chen and lawyer Neptali Maroto, and five of Dacera’s friends -- Romel Galido, Reymar Englis, Louie Delima, John Pascual dela Serna III, and Jezreel Rapinan,
“Results of the NBI investigation revealed the glaring inconsistencies in the PNP autopsy report,” the complaints said.
The NBI said Galido should be indicted for violating Section 3(a) and Section 3(k) for violating Republic Act No. 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for introducing party drugs to his companions and for delivering and giving away the illegal narcotics.
It also recommended charging Rosales with violating Section 3(k) of RA 9165.
In the case of Galido, Dela Serna, and Macalla, the NBI recommended the filing of charges for giving false testimonies and obstruction of justice. Also accused of obstruction of justice were Englis, Rapinan, Rosales, de Guzman, Chen, and Neptali Maroto.
Dela Serna, Rapinan, Chen and Delima were also recommended to be charged with reckless neglect of the condition of Dacera that led to her untimely demise.
Guevarra said the NBI complaints will be forwarded to the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office for the conduct of a preliminary investigation (PI).
“Para sila na din mag-investigate, mag conduct ng PI at isama na yun kung gusto nila isama na sa pag resolve sa rape with homicide case” (So that they will be the ones the investigate, conduct the PI and, if they wanted to, consolidate with the rape with homicide case),” he said.
He said the NBI had intended to file the case before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office but could not do so because the prosecutor’s office had been placed on lockdown due to personnel who tested positive for the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Dacera was found unconscious last Jan. 1 in the bath tub of Room 2209 of City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City where she and her friends celebrated the arrival of the new year.
She was rushed to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) where she was declared dead on arrival.