MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday started its preliminary investigation into the complaint lodged against 11 individuals over the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.

The respondents are facing a complaint for rape with homicide. They were identified as among the individuals who were with Dacera hours before she died on January 1, following a night of partying with friends.

In a press statement, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office said 7 out of 11 respondents and their legal counsels attended Wednesday’s hearing.

Five of them submitted their counter-affidavit.

The office also said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has submitted a supplemental complaint but manifested that it is still awaiting results of the DNA analysis, histopath examination, and laboratory results from Makati Medical Center

“Hence, they moved for the resetting of the preliminary investigation,” it said.

Dacera was found in the bathtub of a hotel room in Makati where she attended a party with some friends on December 31, 2020.

Three of the respondents were detained by police but was ordered released by the City Prosecutor’s Office after it referred the case for further investigation to allow both the complainant and the respondents to submit more evidence.

The next hearing is scheduled on January 27.

MANILA, Philippines — The drug enforcement chief of Zamboanga City Police Office has been relieved from his post after testing positive for narcotics.

PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas in a statement said that Police Major Jivertson Pelovello has been reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of Police Regional Office 9 while undergoing pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings.

Western Mindanao PNP Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan reported that Pelovello has been disarmed of his issued firearms and slapped with corresponding administrative charges.

The PNP Chief reiterated that members of the national police who are using illegal drugs do not deserve to stay in service and should immediately be dismissed.

Pelovello is among the 60 police personnel in Zamboanga City that tested positive for illegal drugs.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a hold departure order against the nine policemen involved in the shooting of four army personnel in Jolo, Sulu.

In a statement, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered prosecutors to file a motion in the court for a hold departure order against the policemen accused of killing the four army personnel in Jolo, Sulu last June 2020.

The order was issued after the Philippine National Police (PNP) released the said cops after being dismissed from service.

“The DOJ prosecutors filed the criminal information against the 9 police officers last January 4. The court was supposed to issue the warrants of arrest thereafter, but apparently failed to do so because of the current lockdown in Sulu,” he said.

Guevarra, meanwhile, hopes the accused would voluntarily turn themselves in once the warrants are issued.

“We hope that the 9 accused will voluntarily turn themselves in when such warrants are eventually released by the court. Otherwise, law enforcement agents will look for them and take them into custody,” Guevarra said. -AAC (with reports from Dante Amento)