THE Makati Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed charges of rape and homicide against 11 people implicated in the death of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Dacera.
Those cleared are John Pascual Dela Serna III, Romel Galido, John Paul Halili, Gregorio Angelo De Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan, Alain D. Chen, Mark Anthony Rosales, Reymar Englis, Louie Delima, Jamyr Cunanan and Eduard Pangilinan.
Assistant City Prosecutor Joan Bolina-Santillan dismissed the charges for “lack of probable cause” in a resolution dated April 23, 2021, which was approved by Deputy City Prosecutor Henry Salazar and City Prosecutor Dindo Venturaza.
Separate charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against Rosales and Galido, and charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Dela Serna III, Rapinan, Chen and Delima have yet to be resolved.
The NBI earlier said there was no evidence of rape.
Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of a hotel room in Makati City around noon of January 1, 2021. She was declared dead at the Makati Medical Center.
A medico-legal report conducted by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory attributed Dacera’s death to a ruptured aortic aneurysm that was triggered by an increase in blood pressure.
Toxicology examinations detected diltiazem, a medicine for high blood pressure and arrythmia, in Dacera’s bloodstream.
Dacera’s family belied police claim about her health condition. (SunStar Philippines)