A flight attendant is dead after an alleged sexual assault during a New Year’s celebration at a luxurious Philippines hotel.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reports that Christine Angelica Dacera, 23, was found unresponsive on January 1, in a bathtub at the lavish Garden City Hotel in Makati City, Philippines. Dacera was supposed to be celebrating with friends when the incident occurred.
Dacera’s body had bruising, cuts and signs of sexual assault, according to Makati City police chief Col. Harold Depositar.
“The victim had lacerations and sperm in her genitalia.”
Depositar added that the flight attendant’s death was initially thought to be of natural causes due to an aneurism, but there were multiple factors that contributed to her death.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ilderbrandi Usana confirmed Depositar’s findings that Dacera had been sexually assaulted.
“There was a manifestation that sexual abuse has been committed,” Usana said. “Based on initial investigation, sexual abuse happened.”
Eleven men have been provisionally charged with rape and homicide. The suspects have been identified, according to Manila Bulletin, as:
- John Pascual Dela Serna III
- Rommel Daluro Galido
- John Paul Reyes Halili
- Gregorio Angelo de Guzman
- Louie de Lima
- Clark Jezreel Rapinan
- Rey Englis
- Mark Anthony Rosales
- Jammyr Cunanan
- Valentine Rosales
- Ed Madrid
- “Paul”
Depositar said all eleven men were at the hotel with Dacera, but she only knew three of them.
“Only three of them were Dacera’s friends. The others were practically strangers to her, as they were only known to her three friends.”
Suspect Rommel Galido reportedly found Dacera in the bathtub at around 10 a.m. on January 1. He told authorities that he put a blanket over her and went back to sleep. He said when he woke up a few hours later, he found Dacera unresponsive and turning blue.
Galido told investigators that he called for help and the hotel staff tried to revive her. Peter Paul Ponongcos, the security chief at the hotel, conducted CPR on Dacera before she was rushed to the Makati Medical Clinic, where she was pronounced dead.
“The management of said hotel requested a rescue team from Barangay Poblacion but to no avail, hence, they decided to bring Ms. Dacera on board their private vehicle but the latter declared dead upon arrival to the hospital,” a police report read.
Dacera’s family told local reporters that they think she was forced to take illegal drugs. The family is now mulling over filing a suit against the hotel for allowing a party to happen, which is reportedly a health protocol violation, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Mrs. Dacera [the victim’s mother] is contemplating on filing a case against the hotel. The hotel allowed 9 to 10 individuals at Room 2209 and seven persons in another room –2207. We believe that is against the regulations of the IATF for the operations of hotels,” lawyer Roger Reyes told reporters.
Meanwhile, authorities are awaiting Dacera’s toxicology and autopsy reports. Depositar said the suspects are only provisionally charged at this point since the reports are not yet completed.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured Photo: Christine Dacera/Facebook]
