PNP urges public not to post unverified info about Christine Dacera’s death

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is urging the public not to post unverified or "speculative" information on social media that could affect the investigation on the death of a 23-year-old flight attendant in Makati City.

"That is our advisory pero alam ninyo ang mga mamamayan natin hindi rin ho mapigilan kahit ano pong pagbibigay niyo ng advice. That's their opinion, their right kung kinakailangan," PNP spokesman Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said in a phone interview.

"Pero kung sakali man po, as a matter of truth, dahil ebidensya ang nagbibigay sa atin ng kadahilanan para malaman kung sino, saan at kailan nangyari itong insidenteng ito, magsubmit na lang tayo sa imbestigasyon na isinasagawa ng kapulisan po," he added.

The death of Christine Dacera sparked outrage over social media. On Twitter, #JusticeForChristineDacera and #StopVictimBlaming were among the trending topics, in relation to the case.

The PNP said three suspects have been arrested for the crime while nine others are still at large. They were charged for rape with homicide during inquest proceedings at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.

Some netizens also condemned that the face of the suspects are already being publicized on social media. Usana believes the police are not the ones posting the photos of the suspects online.

"'Yung usapin na may mga speculations sino 'yung nag-upload, ang mga pulis naman ho ay di naman ho siguro motivated by sharing to the public right away kung hindi kung ano rin ho 'yung nakita nilang ebidensya kasi sila rin ho ang mapupulaan kung 'yung pinepresent nila ay di pala matibay na ebidensya," Usana said.

The PNP official also urged the public to just stick with the facts of the case.

"Alam niyo naman ang social media, ang mga netizens, sadya po talagang... dapat discerning po ang mamamayan natin, tingnan ho nila 'yung mga facts of the case kasi baka po magkaroon ng implication po ito sa katotohanan na gusto nating makuha sa kasong ito," Usana said.

Case solved?

In the information it released on Monday night, the PNP branded the case as already solved. Usana explained that from the perspective of the police, they consider a certain case as solved after identifying the alleged perpetrators of the crime.

"Identified na po ang suspects, although mayroon pa rin pong iba na maituturing na suspects, hindi lang din po sila nahuhuli pa. Pero in so far as those behind, implied naman po 'yun na kung sino 'yung mga nakasama ng biktima sa room kung saan pinagdausan 'yung party at the same time nangyari na rin po 'yung kamatayan ng bata, eh 'yun pong mga naidentify mismo na mga kasamahan niya po, sila po 'yung primary suspects po," he said.

"'Yung usapin po ng solusyon ng case is dependent on identifying the persons na probably responsible po doon sa pangyayaring po 'yun," he added.

Dacera was found dead in the bathtub of a hotel room past noon on New Year’s Day. She checked into the hotel along with friends for a New Year’s Eve celebration. — RSJ, GMA News