MANILA (UPDATE) – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday recommended charges of obstruction of justice, perjury, and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against those who occupied the Makati hotel rooms where flight attendant Christine Dacera had spent her final hours.
Among those facing obstruction of justice charges are Mark Rosales, Rommel Galido, John Dela Serna, Gregorio De Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan, Alain Chen, Reymay Englis, and Darwin Macalla, who partied with Dacera at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City prior to her death on New Year’s Day.
The NBI also recommended filing an obstruction of justice charge against their legal counsel Neptali Maroto, and found evidence to recommend charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Dela Serna, Rapinan, Chen, and Louie De Lima.
NBI also found evidence to recommend reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Dela Serna, Rapinan, Chen & Delima pic.twitter.com/LT5uYeK74E
— Nikolo Baua (@Nikobaua) March 12, 2021
The NBI also recommended filing perjury charges against Galido, Dela Serna and Macalla.
Rosales was, meanwhile, recommended for prosecution for administering illegal drugs after the NBI investigation showed that both Rosales and Galido allegedly tried to deliver or give away illegal drugs at the New Year party.
The NBI also recommended filing falsification of public documents charges against Southern Police District Medico Legal Officer Police Maj. Michael Sarmiento, who conducted the autopsy on Dacera.
The Dacera family lawyer Jose Ledda III said they are satisfied with the NBI’s investigation, calling the decision a “redemption” for the family.
“Redemption para sa amin ito. In spite of the opinion sa social media, ‘yung negative na natanggap ng family, ito po samin ay ‘yung bunga ng paghihirap ng NBI, sa pakikipagtulungan nila sa mga ahensiya,” Ledda said.
(For us this is redemption. Inspite of the opinion on social media, and the negative comments that the family receives, this is a result of the efforts of the NBI, with the help of government agencies.)
“We’re satisfied because it shows na ‘yung government agency namin ay nagtatrabaho. ‘Yung krusada po namin para sa hustisya ay hindi natatapos dito,” he added.
(We’re satisfied because it shows that our government agencies are working. Our crusade for justice does not stop here.)
Dacera, 23 was found unconscious and without a pulse in a bathtub at the Makati hotel around 12:30 p.m. on January 1 after a night of partying. Her friends said they tried to revive her and brought her to the Makati Medical Center, where she was later declared dead.
Dacera and her friends had booked Room 2209 at City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City to ring in the New Year. According to CCTV footage, they went back and forth to Room 2207 after being introduced to guests there.
The PNP, in a medico-legal report, said Dacera died of natural causes, ruling out that her death on New Year’s day was a crime after initially suspecting rape and homicide against her companions. This was later on refuted by her family.
More details to follow.
— report from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News
