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‘Surrender within 72 hours’

Christine Angelica Dacera
Christine Angelica Dacera

Sinas to suspects in Dacera’s death 

PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Debold M. Sinas on Tuesday night issued an ultimatum to the remaining suspects in the death of Philippine Airlines flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera to yield to the police within 72-hours or be the subject of a massive police manhunt.

“This is a fair warning. Surrender within 72-hours or we will hunt you down using force if necessary. We know who you are. Your family must turn you over to the police. Those found to be abetting your escape will also be arrested,” the PNP chief said.

Sinas likewise assured the Dacera family that justice will be served on them and the 23-year old victim.

As of yesterday, several teams from the Southern Police District and the Makati City Police Station are already looking for at least nine other suspects in the case.

Sinas said that once the suspects fail to heed his warning, he will order the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the entire National Capital Region Police Office to join the SPD headed by Brigadier Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta in tracking them down.

“I am assuring the Dacera family that once the other accused ignore my ultimatum, we will be launching a no let-up operation to get them. We are also calling on their relatives and friends who are harboring or coddling them to surrender them to us and let the wheel of justice grind,” Sinas said.

As of last Monday, three suspects were already in police custody for their suspected involvement in Dacera’s death inside the City Garden Hotel.

Sinas reported to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año that based on their parameters, they already consider the Dacera case as already ‘solved’ with the arrest and indictment of the three suspects he identified as John Pascual Dela Serna III, 27; Rommel Daluro Galido, 29; and John Paul Reyes Halili, 25.

The three were charged for the crime of rape with homicide during inquest proceedings at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office. The victim’s family was represented by their lawyer, Attorney Brick Reyes.

Sinas said nine other persons who were with the victim during her stay at the City Garden Hotel are being sought by the Makati City Police.

He identified them as Gregorio Angelo de Guzman, Louie de Lima, Clark Jezreel Rapinan, Rey Englis, Mark Anthony Rosales, Jammyr Cunanan, Valentine Rosales; a certain Ed Madrid, and a certain Paul.

Initial investigation showed the victim and the suspects were at a New Year’s Eve Party at the City Garden Hotel located at the corner of Makati and Kalayaan Avenues in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.

At past noontime of January 1, the victim was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel room. Hotel staff performed CPR on the victim to revive her but failed, and later rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead by doctors.

Sinas said that Peralta has communicated with the mother of the victim in General Santos City and assured the family of a prompt and thorough investigation.