Respondents explain kissing, carrying Christine Dacera in CCTV footage

Two respondents who appeared in CCTV footage along with flight attendant Christine Dacera, who was found dead in a Makati hotel room on New Year’s Day, explained on Thursday the full story behind the clips released to the public.

In an interview with reporters, Valentine Rosales said it was Dacera who initiated the kiss that was caught on CCTV. 

“In my Facebook account… I posted the whole scene, how, first, siya ‘yung nag-initiate ng kiss sa’kin. I was trying to open the door, nag-d-doorbell ako, siya ‘yung sumunggab sa’kin,” he said.

A longer version of the footage on Rosales’ Facebook account showed him backing away from Dacera shortly after she began kissing him. 

“Hindi ko po siya puwedeng itulak… pinindot ko ‘yung doorbell pero umiilag po ako, ginilid ko po siya,” he said. “‘Yung time stamp is 2:50 something a.m. Clearly, marami pa pong nangyari after no’n. Ilang beses pa po siyang pabalik balik sa room.”

Rommel Galido, one of Dacera’s close friends who was also at the New Year’s Eve party, said it was not unusual for her to kiss them when she gets drunk.

“Ano talaga si Tin, ‘pag nalasing may time na nang-aaway, nawawala sa sarili niya. Kung saang lugar siya maging komportable sa pagtulog niya, doon siya matutulog. Tapos minsan sobrang kulit niya tapos may time pa na lahat kami pinaghahalikan niya,” he said.

Meanwhile, JP Dela Serna III said it was around 4 a.m. on January 1 when he carried Dacera from their neighboring hotel room to bring her back to Room 2209.

“Si Tin nawala po siya sa paningin ko from room 2209 then sinundo ko po siya sa room 2207 kasi alam ko nandon lang siya,” he said.

“Kinuha ko si Tin sa labas ng kwarto, then all of a sudden si Tin bigla siyang humiga… Sinalo ko po siya just to be sure na hindi siya mapapaano. From there, binuhat ko siya hanggang sa labas ng kwarto namin.”

Dela Serna added that the full, uncut version of the footage showed Dacera standing up after she was carried back to their hotel room to ring the doorbell.

“Si Tin pa po ‘yung nagpindot ng doorbell at tumayo pa si Tin in front of the door. Meaning nasa tamang wisyo pa no’n si Tin,” he said.

Dacera was found lifeless in a bathtub on January 1, a day after she checked into a hotel with friends to ring in the new year.

Dela Serna, Galido, and John Paul Halili were earlier released from detainment on the orders of the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, who said “the pieces of evidence so far submitted are insufficient to establish that she was sexually assaulted or raped.” 

Dela Serna, Galido, Rosales, and another respondent, Clark Rapina, all firmly denied any foul play in Dacera’s death.

A preliminary investigation has been set for January 13.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News