Claire dela Fuente defends son accused in flight attendant’s death
MANILA, Philippines — Singer and businesswoman Claire dela Fuente on Tuesday defended her son, who was being accused in the death of flight attendant Christine Angela Dacera, while asserting about knowing the truth behind the tragic incident.
“Alam namin iyong totoo. Bakla ang anak ko eh, ang hirap i-admit pero alam ko iyon matagal na, bata pa siya,” declared Dela Fuente during an interview with ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, reacting to the police’s filing of a provisional charge of rape with homicide against 11 suspects, including her son Gregorio Angelo de Guzman, tagged in the alleged rape-slay of Dacera.
(We know the truth. My son is gay, it is difficult to admit but I already knew that since he was young.)
De Guzman, in the same television interview, revealed that he performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Dacera, whom he found unconscious in the empty bathtub of their hotel room on January 1. Dacera and her friends reportedly celebrated New Year’s Eve at the hotel in Makati City.
“Sa bandang isip ko, bakit ayaw niya [Dacera] gumising? Nahihirapan na ako, tumutuyo na iyong bibig ko. Naaalala ko noong malambot pa siya, naaalala ko, binuhat namin siya gamit noong arms niya. Noong palabas ng [bath]tub, warm pa siya,” De Guzman recalled.
(I was thinking back then why Dacera was not waking up? I am already tired, my lips were already dried. I recalled that she was still warm, soft when we pulled her out of the bathtub.)
A tearful De Guzman then stressed that they did everything to take care of Dacera.
“Hindi namin siya [Dacera] iniwan. inalagaan namin siya, dahil alam naming hindi niya kami iiwan,” he said.
(We did not leave her. We took care of her because we knew that she would not leave us.)
Police said they filed a provisional charge of rape with homicide against 11 suspects, including Dacer’s three friends, before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office. Police said Dacer’s three friends were already under police custody.
KGA
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