Dacera presumed quarantining in Makati hotel, had to be embalmed before autopsy -NCRPO chief

Flight attendant Christine Dacera had to be immediately embalmed because she was "presumed" to be quarantining at the Makati hotel where she was found dead, the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office said on Friday. 

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao Jr. pointed to a new policy on standard police procedures that requires authorities - in light of the global pandemic - to have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases embalmed before conducting an autopsy.

“Pandemic po tayo ngayon. We have a policy na nagsasabi, especially pagka probable or suspected victim ka or the cause of death might be [of] COVID, ang policy pala diyan is mauna ‘yung embalming bago ‘yung autopsy,” Danao said.

“It is a quarantine facility, okay? So it is presumed na kapag nandoon ka ay baka nagkwa-quarantine ka,” Danao said.

Danao, however, did not know if Dacera was tested for COVID-19 prior to embalming.

“‘Yun po ang hindi ko alam. That is always their right as the family of the ano, no, victim. They could always recommend over that and it is now up to the higher authorities to act on it, no?” Danao said.

For her part, forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun said authorities could have stored Dacera's remains in a refrigerator while waiting for the results of any swab test, if ever one was conducted, instead of embalming her right away.

She added if authorities suspected Dacera to be COVID-19 positive, those who came in contact with her, including the embalmer, should have worn a Level 3 personal protective equipment or PPE to avoid the risk of possibly getting infected.

The report said Dacera's remains were kept in a refrigerator at the hospital for two days.

Dacera was found dead in the bathtub of a room at the City Garden Grand Hotel on January 1.

Police Major Michael Nick Sarmiento, the medico-legal officer from the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime lab, ordered the embalming of Dacera’s remains even without the consent of the family.

He has already been charged with an administrative complaint.

Fortun said that many pieces of evidence were destroyed when Dacera was embalmed before autopsy. She said authorities should have assessed the situation first before deciding whether or not to conduct a toxicology test on the remains.

In the absence of such test, Danao said the investigation of the PNP will now rely on the testimonies of the witnesses. 

“It doesn't matter kung wala po ‘yung ating toxicology results as long as there will be witnesses who will be coming out to testify what really transpired on that evening,” Danao said. -MDM/KG, GMA News