MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday cautioned the Philippine National Police (PNP) against ordering manhunt operations against suspects without an arrest warrant, following the threat of police chief General Debold Sinas against the perpetrators in the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
“With the ongoing investigation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the death of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) cautions officials to be circumspect in their pronouncements of launching a manhunt operation against suspects without any legal basis such as warrant of arrest,” Lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, the rights body spokesperson, said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Sinas told the eight remaining suspects allegedly involved in the death of Dacera to surrender within 72 hours or else lawmen will go after them.
The commission also reminded that rule of law must still be followed to make sure that “all parties involved in the case are respected.”
“As much as we all want to immediately find out the truth about Christine’s death, the Commission reminds authorities to abide by their own rules and procedures to not cast any doubt in the regularity of police operations, as actions taken at the onset of the investigation play a pivotal role in the full and transparent resolution of the case,” said De Guia.
On New Year’s Day, Dacera’s friends found her without a pulse and not breathing in an empty bathtub at a hotel in Makati City.
Police filed provisional charge of rape with homicide against 11 companions of the flight attendant, insisting that Dacera was sexually abused. Three of the 11 suspects were placed under police custody.
Just recently, the Makati prosecutor’s office ordered the release of the detained suspects, saying that the case was referred for further investigation.