Release of 3 persons linked to Christine Dacera's death won't weaken case, says lawyer

The release of the three individuals being linked to the death of Christine Dacera will not weaken the case, one of the legal counsels of the Dacera family said on Thursday.

In a television interview, lawyer Jose Ledda III said the decision of the Makati City Prosecutor's Office to release John Pascual dela Serna III, Rommel Galido, and John Paul Halili means they were given more time to submit more pieces of evidence to strengthen the case.

"The decision of the city prosecutor to come up with a resolution for RFI or to release for further investigation the apprehended suspects, one it only shows that unlike the claims of other people here, of other groups rather, that the justice system in the Philippines is still working and it works," Ledda told ANC.

"When the Office of City Prosecutor came out with that resolution, it does not weaken the case of the family at all. It merely required the team and the members as well to submit further documents to prove before the Office of City Prosecutor that there is probable cause for the crime being charged," he added.

Ledda also clarified that the case was not an attack against members of the LGBTQ community, noting that the family only wants justice to prevail on the death of the 23-year-old flight attendant.

"This is also not a fight against the LGBTQ community, this is rather a struggle of the family to attain justice for the death of the victim," Ledda said.

He noted that sexual orientation is not one of the elements in proving that a crime of rape was committed, adding that being a member of the LGBTQ community is not a defense for rape.

"One may assert and one may even prove that one may be is a homesexual but that does not discount that rape cannot be committed by a certain individual," Ledda said.

Dacera's companions during the New Year's Eve celebration were being implicated on her untimely demise. The family believes that Dacera was sexually-abused and drugged prior to her death.

Her body was found past noon on January 1.

The three persons released on Wednesday night lamented the death of Dacera, saying that they are also seeking justice for their friend.

Another suspect, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, denied that he was involved in Dacera's death and that he did not abuse the victim, saying that he is gay.—AOL, GMA News