(File Photo) Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — Flight attendant Christine Dacera’s companions who were with her before she was found dead in a Makati hotel on New Year’s Day should give their sworn statements to shed light in the investigation, a police official said Friday.
National Capital Region Police Office acting director Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao said additional accounts would further help the initial statements given by the respondents.
“Initally hindi ganoon ka-conclusive, hindi sufficient to pin down a suspect…lalo na kung may inaakusahan, kailangan ma-pinpoint ang direct participation ng suspect if ever…We need to dig deeper para mas mabigyan lalo ng linaw,” he told CNN Philippines.
(The initial statements were not that conclusive, not sufficient to pin down a suspect…most especially if someone is being accused, they should be able to pinpoint the direct participation of the suspect if ever… We need to dig deeper so we could understand it better.)
Those who refuse to give statements, especially if the information needed would be critical in the investigation, could be charged with obstruction of justice if they decline to cooperate.
“If they will be withholding statements na alam nila na mas makakatulong ..pwede po sila ma file-an ng kaso, obstuction of justice, especially kung alam nila yung nangyari sa loob,” Danao said.
(If they will be withholding [information] that would be useful, they could be charged with obstruction of justice, especially if they are privy to what transpired inside [of that room].)
“Mas maganda maglabas ng black and white sworn statement para makatulong sa kaso. They are not yet off the hook,” he added.
(It would be better if they issue a black and white sworn statement to aid the investigation. They are not yet off the hook.)
Three of Dacera’s friends were earlier tagged by the police as suspects despite an incomplete investigation. They were detained by police but were later released because of lack of evidence.
The 23-year-old Dacera was found lifeless in a Makati hotel room after a New Year’s Eve revelry. Police earlier concluded that it was a rape-slay case, although a solid evidence to back it up remained insufficient.