Makati prosecutor junks raps vs 11 in Dacera case

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati prosecutor’s office has dismissed the criminal charges filed against 11 suspects in connection with the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera in January.

In an 11-page resolution issued by Makati Assistant City Prosecutor Joan Bolina-Santillan, the complaint for rape with homicide lodged against the respondents was dismissed for lack of probable cause.

Cleared of the charges were John Pascual dela Serna III, Rommel Galido, John Paul Halili, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan (alias Clark Rapinan), Alain Chen (aliases Valentin Rosales and Val), Mark Anthony Rosales, Reymar Englis, Louie Delima, Jamyr Cunanan and Eduardo Pangilinan III.

“The issues raised in this office’s resolution dated Jan. 6, particularly the crime committed and the culpability of each respondent, even at this point, have not been established,” Santillan said.

Based on the Philippine National Police medico-legal report, Dacera died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

The family of Dacera believes that the 23-year-old flight attendant was drugged and sexually assaulted before she died, a charge denied by the respondents.

On Jan. 1, after a New Year’s Eve party with some friends and acquaintances, Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of a Makati hotel.

Closed-circuit television footage showed Dacera and her friends going back and forth between rooms 2009 and 2007 of the City Garden Grand Hotel.