Sinas approves recommendation to relieve cops in Dacera case

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas has approved the recommendation of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to relieve the police personnel involved in the investigation on the death of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Dacera.

Sinas said the DIDM recommended the relief of Makati police chief Colonel Harold Depositar, two investigators who were the first responders, the medico-legal officer and scene of the crime operatives (Soco) from the Southern Police District pending the conduct of investigation on possible lapses and negligence.

“However the SITG (Special Investigation Task Group) under regional director of NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) might need their services (in the ongoing investigation of the case) so kasama pa po sila doon. There is no transfer of documents and evidence on others,” he said.

Sinas said it will be NCRPO director, Brigadier General Vicente Danao Jr., who will decide if the recommendation will be implemented immediately.

Danao said implementation of the relief order will depend on the result of the preliminary investigation on the Dacera case.

“Titignan ko muna pero... kung ano man makikita natin lapses after the result of the preliminary investigation then we will implement pero (in) the meantime ... investigation is still ongoing... pero kung ano man ang magiging outcome lalo na if is not in favor sa pag-file ng case eh definitely heads will roll,” he said.

Danao said investigation was still ongoing as of Wednesday. He said they were collating forensic results, statements of key witnesses and other necessary evidence which will be presented to the fiscal on January 27, 2021.

Dacera was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her room at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City on January 1. She and 11 friends, all gay men, had held a yearend party.

Depositar, in his previous interviews, said it was a rape-slay case. The case was, however, returned by the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office for lack of evidence.

An autopsy report by the Southern Police District said Dacera had died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

It was later disclosed that Dacera’s body had been embalmed before the autopsy was performed in violation of the PNP’S standard operating procedure./