Dacera family insists crime was committed

The family of Christine Dacera insisted that crime was committed in the flight attendant’s case.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, Jose Ledda III, lawyer of the Dacera family, said they will exhaust all possible remedies to seek justice for Christine’s death.

“We always base our moves and actions sa documents na hawak namin, but it doesn’t mean that the family counsel will not exhaust possible remedies para ma-seek ‘yong justice na hinahanap ng pamilya,” Ledda said.

“Ang accusation ng family is that there is a crime,” he added.

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 claim they did not harm her.

A medico legal report from the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory dated January 11 submitted to a Makati prosecutor on Wednesday revealed that Dacera died of natural causes.

The report said Dacera died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm that was triggered by an increase in blood pressure.

"Manner of death as homicide is ruled out in Dacera's case because the aortic aneurysm is considered a medical condition. Rape and/or drug overdose will not result to the development of aneurysms," it said.

"Even overdose and ruptured aneurysm are two different conditions and cannot be both included as cause of death of patient," it added.

The report also stated that the “dilatation or aneurysm” in Dacera’s aorta was a “chronic condition” that “started long time ago or maybe years prior to her death.”

"No alcohol or recreational drugs taken the night prior to her death will cause that kind of dilatation or defect on her aorta," the report said.

"If she did not die that fateful night, she will still die in any scenario that presents an activity that will increase her blood pressure strong enough to tear that aneurysm."

The Makati prosecutor’s preliminary investigation that will determine whether the case will be brought to court or not will resume on February 3. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News