THE Department of Justice (DOJ) may not be inclined to disclose piecemeal information on the ongoing reinvestigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera inside a hotel room in Makati City on New Year’s day.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told mediamen that it would be better to wait for the result of the NBI’s forensic examination before giving an update on the case.
He said the NBI is expected to release its forensic result in less than a week.
“[It is] more prudent to await further narrative accounts and the results of the NBI forensic examination,” the DOJ chief said.
He, however, disclosed that the occupants of Room 2207, the other room that Dacera visited several times prior to her death, have been invited to appear to the NBI to provide any relevant information related to the case.
The NBI has declined to name the individuals who occupied Room 2207 but has issued subpoena to 11 personalities being linked to the death of the 23-year-old Dacera.
Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of a hotel room they rented out to celebrate the New Year.
Her companions rushed her to the nearest hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
The NBI was forced to conduct a reinvestigation into Dacera’s death after the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office found the evidence submitted by the police to be insufficient to warrant the filing of a rape with murder against 11 male respondents.
The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office also ordered the release of three respondents under police custody and directed the conduct of a preliminary investigation into the case.
Subject of the preliminary investigation are respondents identified as John Pascual Dela Serna, Rommel Galido, John Paul Halili, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Clark Rapinan, Valentin Rosales, Mark Anthony Rosales, Rey Ingles, Louie De Lima, Jammyr Cunanan and a certain Ed Madrid.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said that the evidence presented before the prosecutor was considered premature.
Makati Assistant City Prosecutor Joan Bolina-Santillan had requested the PNP to submit the results of the DNA analysis, toxicology/chemical analysis and histopath examinations which are necessary for the preliminary investigation.
‘Lapses’
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas ordered the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to look into any possible lapses that may have been committed by Makati policemen in their investigation into the death of Dacera.
“I have directed the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to immediately conduct a separate inquiry and to recommend to us not later than January 13 their findings on any liabilities of Makati Police officers involved in the ongoing investigation of the Dacera case,” Sinas said.
The PNP chief also ordered the creation of Special Investigation Task Group Dacera led by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to reinvestigate Dacera’s death.