"The probe into the young woman's death showcases the PNP personnel’s propensity to bungle their jobs."
The shocking scene of a police sergeant shooting dead pointblank his neighbors, a mother, and her son, did not help at all the ill-reputed Philippine National Police (PNP) salvage its credibility at the close of a year of pandemic misfortune.
It would have been great to score a first-round knockout on Day One of 2021 with a stamp of “case solved” in the alleged Christine Angelica Dacera rape-slay case during the early hours of New Year’s Day at the City Garden Grand Hotel Makati.
But it now appears an unseen hand may have moved swiftly to nullify the initial police findings, thereby stalling and practically sabotaging the prospect of prosecution of the suspects who come from well-to-do families.
Dacera’s companion said they found her unconscious around noon in the bathtub of Room 2209 after vomiting persistently in the bathroom. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Makati Medical Center.
PNP chief General Debold Sinas readily announced that Dacera was a victim of rape-slay and the “case solved” with the apprehension of at least three suspects.
Two days later, PNP medico-legal P/Maj. Michael Sarmiento concluded in his report that Dacera’s cause of death is “Raptured Aortic Aneurysm.”
Lapses in the conduct of scene of the crime operation (SOCO), inept questioning of three detained suspects, and the irregular procedure of autopsy led to the immediate release of the three due to “insufficient evidence.”
It is simply unbelievable that what appeared as the gruesome murder of Dacera, the lone woman in the company of 15 men, would turn out to be the natural death of a healthy 23-year old flight stewardess.
Again, this showcases the PNP personnel’s propensity to bungle their jobs, if not committing the crimes themselves.
Well, it’s not too late for the PNP to absolve itself of yet another fiasco to start off the year 2021.
President Duterte has promised justice for Dacera, even as Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to step into the case.
National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Vic Danao, Jr. has also formed a joint task force composed of members from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-NCR office, Makati City Police investigators and the SOCO to strengthen the "rape with homicide case."
Danao said the task force is mounting a manhunt for persons of interest who have remained at large, particularly one Mark Anthony Rosales whom Dacera blamed for lacing her drink. She also had a scuffle with him
Further investigation of the case as ordered by the Makati City Prosecutor should ensure conviction of those behind the heinous crime, said Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
Dacera’s mother, Sharon, questioned the medico-legal autopsy which was conducted after embalming the crime victim’s cadaver without the family’s permission.
“Elementary common sense requires that a medico-legal examination be first conducted on a cadaver before you embalm it. The prior removal of several organs, draining of the deceased's blood and injection of chemicals may destroy any evidence relevant to the examination's supposed findings.”
Sarmiento’s failure to get blood samples rendered the medical examination report and death certificate he issued as “irregular, inaccurate and misleading as the victim’s body injuries, abrasions and bruises on her arms and legs were totally ignored.
Danao said the embalming may have eliminated evidence of rape. “Paano kung pinaliguan mo yan? Hindi ko alam kung talagang nakakuha sila ng specimen or samples,” said the NCRPO chief.
During my tele-radyo show’s interview with three of those implicated, they vehemently denied attacking Dacerna, as they are openly gay men and were close friends with her.
The partying which was supposedly prohibited under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) was arranged through the hotel’s deputy manager and security officials.
The hotel is also a government-designated quarantine facility for travelers from abroad awaiting for the RT-PCR test results.
Investigators now await the all-important toxicology report, DNA analysis, and histopath report.
Danao said that drugs, as well as alcoholic drinks, may have been used to induce Dacera.
He admitted he has not seen the complete CCTV video footage and that the occupants of the other hotel room 2207, including a pro-basketball player, have not sent surrender feelers
“Posibleng nahaluan ng ibang lalake ang grupo ng mga beki na straight guys,” Danao was quoted as saying.
Not long after realizing her dream of becoming a flight attendant, a youngster full of life was snuffed out of this cold ruthless world.
President Duterte assured her family and friends that justice will be served with the PNP now on the hunt for Dacera’s killers.
Sinas, who beat several senior officials in the race for the top PNP post, must now prove he is up to the job and so does everyone else jockeying for the position of Chief PNP in four months.