Respondents in Dacera’s death hoping for early resolution of case

MANILA, Philippines — Respondents in the death of a female flight attendant during a New Year’s Party have hoped for an early resolution of the case, as they insisted that they are innocent.

According to lawyer Mike Santiago, the counsel of five of the men who were with Christine Dacera before she died in a Makati hotel, they have filed counter-affidavits and memorandum before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Makati City on Wednesday, which is conducting a preliminary investigation of the case.

But the family of Dacera, who filed complaints against the five and other respondents, has requested that they file their own reply-affidavit.  They were allowed to submit it on February 11.

Santiago said that afterward, they would no longer file rejoinders after the complainants file their reply. Instead, they hope that the complaint would be up for resolution as the evidence clearly pointed that Dacera died of natural causes.

“So inaasahan natin na sana, pagkatapos no’ng February 11, submitted na for resolution itong kaso na ‘to kasi maliwanag naman ‘yong findings ng ating PNP-Crime Laboratory as to the cause of death,” Santiago told reporters.

(So we are expecting that after February 11, the case is already submitted for resolution because it is clear based on the findings of the PNP-Crime Laboratory as to the cause of Dacera’s death.)

“Hindi na (mag-file ng rejoinder) kasi as far as we are concerned, sa mga clients namin, naniniwala naman kami na sapat na ‘yong mga pleadings na i-sinubmit namin […] sa mga kliyente namin nag-file na kami ng memorandum, so I think that will suffice,” he added.

(We are no longer going to file a rejoinder because, as far as we are concerned, for our clients, we believe that the pleadings and memorandum we submitted are enough, so I think that will suffice.)

Dacera was initially thought to be a rape-slay victim after being found unconscious at a Makati hotel after partying with male friends.  She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

But Dacera’s friends — also the respondents — have maintained that they cannot do such things to their friend, especially that they are members of the gay community.  They also banked on two medico-legal reports which stated that Dacera died of aortic aneurysm and not because of rape or illegal drugs.

READ: Medico-legal report: Dacera’s death due to natural cause; rules out rape, homicide 

READ: Flight attendant’s medico-legal report ‘not for public consumption’ – Makati police chief 

Despite the emergence of these reports, Dacera’s mother Sharon Dacera still believes that foul play happened in her daughter’s death.

READ: Mother still suspects foul play in Christine Dacera’s death

Santiago said that they are holding on to these reports as proof that his clients are innocent.

“Pinanghahawakan namin ‘yong medico-legal report […] at meron pa silang binabanggit na ‘yong toxicology report na hindi pa available kasi nasa UP laboratory pa.  So binigyan sila ng huling pagkakataon na i-submit ito sa susunod na linggo, sa February 11,” he explained.

(We are holding on to the medico-legal report, and other reports that they mentioned, like a toxicology report, which is still pending with the UP laboratory.  So they were given a last chance to submit it by next week, on February 11.)

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