Police arrested three individuals in connection with the case of a Philippine Airlines flight attendant found dead inside a hotel room in Makati City on Jan. 1.
The three suspects were among the 11 persons being investigated by the Makati City police in the death of Christine Angelica Dacera, 23.
Philippine National Police chief Director Debold Sinas said the case of Dacera was considered solved with the arrest and indictment of the three suspects.
Sinas said John Pascual Dela Serna III, 27; Rommel Daluro Galido, 29; and John Paul Reyes Halili, 25, were charged for the crime of rape with homicide during inquest proceedings at the Makati City Prosecutors Office Monday.
Sinas said nine other persons who were with the victim during her stay at the hotel were being hunted by the police.
They were identified as Gregorio Angelo de Guzman; Louie de Lima; Clark Jezreel Rapinan; Rey Englis; Mark Anthony Rosales; Jammyr Cunanan; Valentine Rosales; a certain Ed Madrid; and a certain Paul.
Police said the victim was found dead at the bathroom of an adjacen room of City Garden Hotel hours after celebrating New Year with her friends and acquaintances.
One of her friend/companions, Rommel Galida, initially told investigators that he thought Dacera was just sleeping when he found her at the bathroom around 10 a.m. He covered her with a blanket and returned to bed.
Few hours later, Galida woke up and was shocked to find her friend still in the bathroom, unconscious and turning blue.
Dacera was initially brought to the clinic of the hotel where she was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
But she remained unresponsive and was transferred to the Makati Medical Center where attending physicians declared her dead on arrival.
Police said the hospital reported Dacera's death around 5 p.m. of Jan. 1.
It was learned that Dacera celebrated the holiday with acquaintances numbering at least 10 people inside the hotel room during the private party.
Dacera's family believed she was forced to use prohibited substance during the party.
Meanwhile, PAL officials said they would extend their support to the flight attendant's family.
"PAL Express mourns the tragic death of a flight attendant last January 1 during New Year revelry in Makati City. The flight attendant, whose identity we are not at liberty to disclose at this time, was an upstanding and professional PAL Express crew member who will be sorely missed by her colleagues and friends," the PAL management said in a statement.
"Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice," it added.
