SEEKING TRUTH | NBI makes headway in probe on Dacera’s death as more persons of interest come forward

January 15, 2021 , 08:34 PM

(January 15, 2021) – Another person of interest in the death of Christine Dacera came forward to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday to give his statement on the incident as all the men in the second hotel room being probed are now accounted for.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin told reporters they have fetched one man from Tacloban City, the 13th person present at Room 2207 of the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati during New Year’s Eve. They were staying next to the hotel room of Dacera and her friends where they had a celebration.

The 12 others appeared to the NBI last Wednesday to give their statement and undergo a drug test.

“Tingin ko, the way we are handling the investigation, ‘yung professionalism, nakikita nila ‘yung sinseridad ng agents namin,” said Lavin.

Through the recent developments on the case, Lavin is hopeful that investigators would find out the truth about Dacera’s controversial death soon.

The 23-year-old flight attendant died on arrival at the Makati Medical Center on January 1 after she was found unconscious in the bathtub of their hotel room. Initial autopsy results revealed she died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm, but her family believes she did not die of natural causes.

Two of Dacera’s friends, who are also considered persons of interest, revealed on Thursday that they were forced by the Makati police to say that they used drugs during the party.

The NBI has conducted a second autopsy on Dacera, but the results have yet to be released. Earlier this week, Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI retrieved a total of 100 milliliters of urine from the remains even though the body has already been embalmed prior to taking samples.

Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun raised questions about the particular finding, urging the investigators to carefully document their processes. Lavin, however, dispelled the concerns, saying he “does not want the NBI to be distracted from its focus on the investigation.”

Meanwhile, the preliminary investigation on the case was postponed until January 27 after the Makati police have yet to provide the court a copy of the DNA analysis, histopath exam, and laboratory results of Dacera from the Makati Medical Center.

(With reports from Ryan Ang, News 5; Beatrice Puente/PM)

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