MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a motion to reopen the investigation into the case of Christine Dacera due to newly found evidence.

Based on their toxicology report, two swab samples from Dacera are positive for 4-Fluoromethamphetamine and methamphetamine which are dangerous drugs. A semen analysis was also conducted which confirmed the presence of semen at the crime scene.

Based on the findings, the PNP said these evidence will prove that the 23-year-old Dacera was raped and drugged before she died.

Meanwhile, Atty. Mike Santiago who counsels the five respondents in the case questioned PNP’s motion and said it would only prolong the case resolution.

He also questioned why the said evidence were only found recently when the results were already available in February.

“It’s just troublesome and worrying on our part that these additional pieces of evidence which were already available as early as February 11 — the other one on February 9 — were only submitted this week,” Santiago said.

“What’s the purpose of delaying if it’s already available? Why delay the submission? That is our question,” the lawyer added.

The prosecutor conducted the final preliminary investigation on February 17 and now awaits resolution.

Despite the new evidence submitted by the PNP, Santiago said it will not affect case.

“If whether these will affect our case—what’s the case? Rape with homicide? There is no bearing whether there are drugs on the premises or not. It doesn’t really affect the case basically,” he said.

Meanwhile, the respondents are awaiting possible prosecutor’s order to submit a comment on the motion. AAC (with reports from Dante Amento)

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it is in favor of relaxing the quarantine classification in Metro Manila from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

According to NCRPO Director PMGen. Vicente Danao Jr., this is to ease the load of police officers who have been monitoring quarantine controlled points for almost one year.

“It could be a very very welcome development for all of us at least. Siguro nakikita ng taas na nako-kontrol na natin ang virus. Hopefully, as long as hindi po natin maba-violate ang basic health protocols (Maybe the higher-ups are seeing we are controlling the virus. Hopefully, as long as we do not violate the basic health protocols),” he said.

Aside from this, easing the quarantine classification can also help them in focusing more on their anti-illegal drugs, anti-criminality, and anti-terrorism campaign.

Meanwhile, Danao also reiterated that the public should still follow the minimum health and safety protocols.

“Let us be responsible enough to really, follow the basic like wearing a facemask, face shield, social distancing,” he said. -AAC (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

MANILA, Philippines — Christine Angelica Dacera, the 23-year old flight attendant who died after attending a new year’s eve party in Makati hotel last week, was laid to rest on Sunday in a private cemetery in her hometown of General Santos City.

Family members and close friends attended the burial held on Sunday morning at the Forest Lake Memorial Park.

Christine’s mother, Sharon Dacera said the family would continue to seek justice for their daughter as she thanked all those who showed support in this time of grief.

“Nagpasalamat ako sa inyo… you’re here to condole with us. Sana po ipanalangin niyo po, ipanalangin niyo po na magkaroon ng justice and peace ang soul ng among Christine Angelica “Ica” Faba Dacera,” she said.

To recall, Dacera was found unconscious in a bathtub in one of the rooms of City Garden Grand Hotel around noontime of January 1 after a night of partying with 12 men, some of them were her friends.

She was rushed to a hospital and was declared dead on arrival.

Dacera was buried a few days after her remains arrived in General Santos City on Thursday via a Philippine Airlines flight.

Initial medical report stated that Dacera died due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm but her family insisted that she was very healthy and suspected that she was drugged and sexually abused.

Police initially announced that three suspects in her death case were arrested and charged with rape with homicide but the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of the apprehended persons and referred the case for further investigation.

The prosecutor’s office said further investigation should be conducted to determine whether Dacera was raped and/or killed, and if the identified suspects were responsible for the crime. It also seeks to determine whether the death was by reason or on occasion of rape or for other reasons – the actual cause of death.

It also directed police officers to submit additional evidence such as DNA analysis report, toxicology/chemical analysis, and the histopath examination report.

The preliminary investigation is set on January 13.

Officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were in General Santos on Saturday to collect samples from Dacera’s body as part of its probe on the case.

The NBI, however, admitted that getting results to be used as evidence would be difficult given the state of the body.

“Alam namin na mediyo impossible na, considering that there has already be compromises, compromised na yung ibang pieces of evidences dito, considering na contaminated na ah nag-detoriate na. nagkaroon na ng rapid deterioration yung ibang ebidensiya dito, but again we will not discourage by that,” NBI deputy director Atty. Ferdinand Lavin said.

The NBI said the result of the re-autopsy conducted on Dacera’s body is expected to be released in a week. – RRD (with details from Correspondent James Pugoy)