Sinas warns of contempt for suspects in death of Christine Dacera

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned on Wednesday that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will file a case to cite for contempt the suspects in the death of Christine Dacera if they fail to surrender within the 72-hour period given to them.

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said the CIDG has already issued subpoenas for the remaining suspects in the suspected killing of the 23-year-old flight attendant. He said the CIDG will be assisting the Makati City police in investigating the incident.

“That’s why binigyan ko ng (I gave them) time because after hindi sila magpakita (if they don’t appear), we will now be filing, the CIDG will be filing direct contempt,” he said in a press briefing after meeting the family of Dacera.

Sinas on Tuesday warned the suspects to surrender within 72 hours or else be hunted down “using force if necessary” by the police.

He stands by the rape-slay angle in the death of the young flight attendant.

“When we have discussed with investigators and other senior officers, I think there is really rape. ‘Yung babae, may (The woman has) bruises, confirmed lacerations, may fluid sa (fluids in her) private parts niya,” said Sinas.

“We have evidence but we could not reveal it now because ongoing ang investigation (investigation is ongoing),” he said of the rape-slay angle.

Police earlier filed a provisional charge of rape with homicide against the 11 suspects before the Makati City prosecutor’s office. The complaint implies the absence of probable cause required to prosecute a criminal in court.

Three of the suspects are already in police custody.

However, Sinas said that there could be more suspects following an analysis of the CCTV footage taken at the hotel where Dacera’s body was found in a bathtub on New Year’s Day.

“Accordingly we now have understood na baka ‘yung mga hinahanap namin baka madagdagan pa ‘yun later based on the CCTV cameras or footage na narecover doon sa hotel,” he said.

(We could be searching for more suspects based on what we saw from the CCTV footage from the hotel.)

“There are others na nakita sa CCTV na meron pang ibang pumapasok doon (We saw that there were others who were seen in the CCTV entering the hotel rooms),” he added.

“Lahat ng nakita, nandoon during, before the incident na dineclare namatay si Christine ay isasama lahat ‘yun sa kaso. Our lawyers are coordinating for the cases that will be filed against them,” he further said.

(All those who were present during the incident or before Christine was found dead will be included in the complaint.)

However, Sinas did not confirm if the medico-legal report that circulated on social media, which indicated that Dacera’s cause of death is ruptured aortic aneurysm, was genuine. “Kapag hindi galing sa amin (If it did not come from us), I will not vouch on that,” he said.

He also appealed to the public to refrain from making speculations regarding the death of Dacera.

“The whole PNP is behind the family of Dacera and we assure them that we will not let go of the case,” he said.

JE