Another big ‘booboo’ for the PNP?

THE assertion by Philippine National Police (PNP) director general, P/Gen. Debold Sinas, that they have ‘solved’ the case of flight steward, Christine Angelica Faba Dacera, hours after she was found dead on New Year’s Day is now under serious doubt, boosted by the order of the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office to release three suspects for ‘insufficiency of evidence.’

In his report to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, Sinas on Monday, January 4, 2021, boldly claimed that they have ‘solved’ the case with the detention of three of her companions at the time of her death and the filing against them of ‘rape with homicide’ case before the Makati Prosecutor’s Office.

Sinas made the conclusion the police had already solved Dacera’s case without disclosing the result of the autopsy report (see narrative below) by the Scene of the Crime Office (SOCO/PNP Crime Lab) and the absence of the toxicology report. His conclusiion was apparently merely based on ‘observations’  by his subordinates at the time Dacera’s body was discovered.

Dacera, 23,  was found at a bathtub of a hotel in Makati City in the early hours of New Year, unconscious, with bruises and with ‘fluids’ flowing from her lower extremities, indicating she was sexually assaulted.

Prior to her death, Dacera was working as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines and her  family allowed her to be with her ‘friends’ in welcoming the New Year.

The three suspects who helped in bringing her to the hospital for emergency treatment and where she was declared ‘DOA’ (dead on arrival), were the ones slapped with the homicide case with rape by the police.

‘Insufficiency of evidence’

On Wednesday evening, two days after Sinas declared the case as ‘solved,’ the Makati Prosecutor’s Office release Pascual Dela Serna III, Rommel Daluro Galido and John Paul Reyes Halili, for ‘insufficiency of evidence’ against them.

The court also referred back the case to the police ‘for further investigation.’

Further weakening the police version of the event is the surfacing of the copy of the alleged ‘autopsy report’ by the police declaring that Dacera was not killed but apparently died from a “rupture aortic aneurysm” or from natural causes.

The autopsy report was signed by P/Major Michael Rey Sarmiento, PNP medico legal officer and dated January 2, 2021.

The ‘certified true copy’ of the autopsy report also showed “deep healed lacerations” of Dacera’s vagina, indicating she had sex with someone but this happened some time ago and not at any time when she was partying with the suspects. This result debunked the PNP’s conclusion that she was raped.

The surfacing of the report not only led to the release of the detained suspects but also triggered a call for another autopsy of Dacera’s remains by her family.

Sinas, meanwhile, continued to insists that the case is now ‘solved’ and that the suspects they charged—and ordered release by the court—participated in the rape-slay of Dacera.

Sinas also warned the 9 remaining suspects who are still at large to surrender “within 72 hours” or face a manhunt by the police.

Those still being sought by the police are:

‘Gregorio Angelo de Guzman,’ ‘Louie de Lima,’ ‘Clark Jezreel Rapinan,’ ‘Rey Englis,’ ‘Mark Anthony Rosales,’ ‘Jammyr Cunanan,’ ‘Valentine Rosales,’ ‘Ed Madrid’ and one alias ‘Paul.’

The above persons were among those identified by the Makati Police who were with Dacera at the time of the incident (updated January 7, 2021; 5:11pm).