NBI to examine phones of persons of interest in Christine Dacera death

After completing its forensic examination of Christine Dacera's remains, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into the phones of the persons of interest in the flight attendant's death, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.

"The NBI digital forensic team will now proceed to examine the data in the mobile phones of the persons of interest," Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

Earlier, while he confirmed that the NBI is done with its forensic examination, Guevarra left it to the bureau to disclose the results.

The NBI previously said it had extracted at least 100 milliliters of urine from Dacera's remains and said this will help them check for the presence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun said this raised more questions considering that the police earlier reported that Dacera's bladder was empty.

Dacera, 23, was found unconscious in the bathtub of a hotel room in Makati City on January 1. She had checked in with friends to celebrate the New Year.

Her family believes she was drugged and sexually abused, but her friends, who are now accused of rape with homicide before the Makati prosecutor's office, said they did not harm her.

In efforts separate from the prosecutors' preliminary investigation, the NBI also summoned the occupants of the nearby hotel room that Dacera had visited before she died. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News