Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sunday the Philippine National Police had agreed to share with the National Bureau of Investigation the evidence it had obtained in connection with the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera who died after celebrating New Year’s Eve in a hotel in Makati City.
"PNP will share its evidence [specimens, garments, mobile phones] with the NBI on Monday; the NBI will complete and finalize its report soon thereafter," Guevarra said in a message sent to reporters.
He said that after the NBI receives the evidence from the PNP, the agency will be able to finish its probe within the week and submit its final report to the Department of Justice.
"I was informed that after receiving certain specified pieces of evidence from the police on Monday, the NBI will be in a position to wind up its investigation within the week, and to submit its report to the DOJ for the consideration of the investigating prosecutor," Guevarra said.
Dacera was found dead at noon of January 1, 2021, after checking in to a Makati City with friends on Dec. 31, 2020, to celebrate New Year's Eve together.
Police initially announced that three suspects had been arrested and charged with rape and homicide during inquest proceedings at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.
The Makati City Prosecutor's Office later ordered the release of the three detained suspects, saying the pieces of evidence initially submitted by the police were insufficient in establishing that Dacera was raped.
The Dacera’s mother insists her daughter was raped, but a PNP report said she died of natural causes.