NCRPO chief says filing of cases vs suspects in Dacera case ” too early”

January 6, 2021

The chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday said the filing of a case against the suspects on  the death of a flight attendant inside a hotel room in Makati City was ''too early''.

In a TV interview, Brig. Gen Vicente Danao Jr admitted that the filing of the case  was not thoroughly studied.

“I have to admit that the filing of the case is too early and it was not carefully studied… First, they have not established who is the real culprit. Let’s say someone killed her, the question is who? We cannot establish yet,” Danao said.

Danao said the angle that the victim was killed, raped or even drugged unknowingly is unresolved.

“There are no witnesses and then there is no other evidence or conclusive evidence pointing to the 11 (alleged suspects). Second, they said it was rape, question is who among them?,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned personally I would rather say it is not clear yet on what case should be filed,” he said.

Three suspects named as John Pascual Dela Serna III, 27; Rommel Daluro Galido, 29; and John Paul Reyes Halili were charged for rape with homicide during inquest proceedings at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.

Danao said maybe the chief of police of Makati City is just eager to solve the crime.

“Actually I have to be very frank, I talked to the (Makati police )chief and asked why the filing of the case was so early… Maybe it is his eagerness but I told him handling sensational cases like this should not be like that,” Danao said.

Danao assured that they will file an administrative case if they will find lapses on how the case was handled.

“As the regional director if I saw administrative lapses especially because the police operational procedures on how to really investigate the case were not followed then we will file later on whatever lapses we see,” he said.

Danao said the case should only be considered as clear and not yet solved.

“I would rather say it was case cleared for the meantime since we do not even know who is the culprit,” he said.

In his press briefing, Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas said they considered the case solved but not yet closed as they were able to identify the people involved in the incident.

Sinas added that due to the bruises, contusions and lacerations the victim had, they believed that she was also sexually harassed.

Though they had different opinions over the incident, Sinas said there is no need for them to argue and they will just let the investigation proceed.

Danao said they encourage the Dacera family to obtain an independent autopsy.

“We encourage them to have an independent autopsy so that once and for all there will be no whitewash. It is better so that the case on the cause of death will be cleared,” he said.

Dacera, 23, was found dead inside the bathtub of a hotel room on January 1 after celebrating New Year’s Eve  with friends.

According to the medico legal report, Dacera died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm which her family disputes.

Sinas appealed to the nine remaining alleged suspects to surrender and shed light on the incident. Ella Dionisio/DMS