PNP declaration 'Dacera case solved' is irresponsible, deceptive –Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday branded as “irresponsible” and “deceptive” the Philippine National Police's claim that the death case of flight attendant Christine Dacera is "considered solved" despite the lack of enough basis.

In her weekly radio show, Robredo stressed that there was no sufficient basis for the police to say that the sudden death of the 23-year-old Dacera on New Year’s Day has been solved.

“Ang laking kasalanan noon sa pamilya ng namatay na hindi klaro sa kanila kung paano namatay iyong kanilang anak. Hindi makatarungan iyon doon sa mga madadawit iyong pangalan, na… hindi gumawa ng maayos na imbestigasyon kung bakit iyon nangyari,” she said.

Dacera was found lifeless in the bathtub of a Makati hotel room on January 1, a day after she checked in with friends for a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Three of the 11 people around with Dacera when she was found unconscious were immediately arrested by the police, prompting PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas to prematurely declare that the death case was solved. 

Just days later, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release from custody of the three, noting that “the pieces of evidence so far submitted are insufficient to establish that she was sexually assaulted or raped.” 

A preliminary investigation was then set for January 13.

“Para sa akin, napaka-irresponsible na sabihin mo na ‘case closed.’ Napaka-irresponsible na sabihin mo na ito iyong dahilan, na wala ka pang basehan,” Robredo said.

“Panlilinlang sa tao iyong ganoon, na bakit mo sasabihin na ‘case closed’ na hindi pa maayos iyong imbestigasyon,” she added.

Likewise, the Vice President reminded police to be “extra careful” in handling crime scenes, after it was found that Dacera’s body was embalmed before a medico-legal examination could be performed. 

“Paalala ito sa lahat na nagha-handle ng mga crime scenes, lahat na nagha-handle ng mga ganitong parang mysterious na mga deaths: iyong pagiging extra careful sa paghawak ng kaso, iyong pagsisiguro na iyong protocols nasusunod,” she said.

“Napaka-delikado kasi hindi maayos iyong imbestigasyon, tapos sinasabi mo na na, ‘Ito iyong mga guilty.’ Kung mayroon tayong death penalty, baka nasa death row, tapos hindi naman pala iyon ang nangyari. Napaka-delikado noon,” she pointed out. —LBG, GMA News