NBI files criminal raps vs 11 in Dacera case

The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the filing of another set of criminal charges against the companions of flight attendant Christine Dacera, who was found dead in a hotel room in Makati City after a New Year’s Eve party.

The NBI on Friday filed the complaints with the Department of Justice against 11 respondents, including their lawyer and a police official, with Dacera’s parents, Sharon and Jose Nestor, as complainants.

The second autopsy on Dacera’s body conducted by the NBI was consistent with the initial finding of the Philippine National Police that the 23-year-old died of natural cause.

The NBI said Dacera died of “periaortic hemorrhages and aortic wall disruption, suspicious for a bleeding dissecting aneurysm.”

Dr. Evelyn Ignacio, medicolegal officer of the NBI, said a toxicology examination on Dacera’s body showed the presence of Diltiazem, a prescription drug for hypertension.

Ferdinand Lavin, deputy director of the NBI, said deposits of Diltiazem were found in her stomach and liver, suggesting that Dacera had been taking the drug “for long” to manage her disease.

The NBI submitted a medical opinion of its forensic team suggesting there was a “very probable” connection between the rupturing of Dacera’s aortic aneurysm and her taking illegal drugs and alcohol.

The NBI, however, would file a complaint of falsification of an official document against Police Maj. Dr. Michael Sarmiento, the medicolegal officer of the Southern Police District Crime Laboratory Office, who conducted the first autopsy on Dacera.

‘Very glaring’ differences

Zulika Marie Conales Degamo, an agent of the NBI death investigation division, said Sarmiento’s autopsy report had “very glaring” differences with the NBI autopsy report.

For one, while Sarmiento found Dacera’s urinary bladder empty, the NBI was able to extract 130 milliliters of urine from her body. The NBI also did not find abrasions on Dacera’s labia majora, ruling out rape.

Despite ruling out rape with homicide, the NBI named JP de la Serna, Clark Rapinan, Alain Chen and Louie de Lima as respondents for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide complaint.

“Your omission and failure to give the proper prudence and diligence required of you at that time and place make you liable under the law,” Degamo said.

The NBI agent noted how Dacera was complaining as early as 5 a.m. on Jan. 1 of severe headache, numbing of her body, breathlessness and vomiting but “the occupants of Room 2209 who were with her for the longest time failed to observe these details, which to us are very impossible.”

Based on the testimonies of witnesses, the NBI’s investigation concluded that illegal drugs were present at Room 2209 of City Garden Grand Hotel.

The NBI recommended Mark Anthony Rosales to be charged with administering illegal drugs. Rosales and Rommel Galido were also respondents for attempt to deliver or to give away illegal drugs.

Degamo said chemistry analysis found the two cotton swabs on the bathroom floor of Room 2209 where Dacera vomited tested positive for 4-fluoromethamphetamine and methamphetamine.

The same illegal substances were found by the PNP Crime Laboratory Office.

The presence of illegal drugs during the party was corroborated by witnesses from Room 2207, Degamo said.

When Dacera went to Room 2207, she allegedly told its occupants that she did not want to stay at Room 2209 anymore because they were having an “orgy” and were already “high in drugs.”