MANILA, Philippines — The case filed against suspects in the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera was not weakened despite the resolution issued by the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, one of the lawyers for the Dacera family said Thursday.
“No. The decision of the Office of the City Prosecutor to come up with the resolution for RFI or to release for further investigation the apprehended suspects, one, it only shows that, unlike the claims of other people here or of other groups, the justice system in the Philippines is still working and it works, okay?” Attorney Jose Ledda III told ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if the Makati Prosecutor’s Office resolution downplayed the rape-slay angle in Dacera’s death.
On Wednesday, the Makati Prosecutor’s Office found a lack of evidence to prove Dacera was sexually assaulted and murdered even after the Philippine National Police (PNP) considered Dacera’s case as “solved.” The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office also ordered the release of three detained suspects, who was with Dacera at their New Year’s Day party.
Ledda said they are just “given more time” to submit more evidence to prove that Dacera was raped and killed.
“When the Office of City Prosecutor comes out with the resolution, it does not weaken the case of the family at all, it merely requires them to submit further documents to prove before the office of the city prosecutor. That there is probable cause for the crime being charged so, in a sense, we are just given time to submit something that we do not have in possession right now,” the lawyer said.
In its resolution, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office said police failed to submit the DNA analysis results, toxicology/chemical analysis, and histopathology examination to determine Dacera’s cause of death as well as to prove whether the victim was sexually abused and then killed.
Dacera’s death certificate said the cause of death was a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which could be due to very strenuous activity and probably a high level of alcohol toxicity.
READ: 3 suspects in Dacera death freed amid cries for justice