Dacera mom disputes PNP report

MANILA, Philippines — The mother of flight attendant Christine Dacera disputed yesterday the medico-legal report of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which ruled out foul play in her death.

The PNP Crime Laboratory on Wednesday reported that Dacera died of natural causes.

Dacera’s mother, Sharon, did not agree with the findings of medico-legal officer Lt. Col. Joseph Palermo that she died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Lawyer Roger Reyes, spokesman for the Daceras, said they found irregularities in the PNP’s second autopsy report dated Jan. 11.

“The autopsy report is not a medico-legal examination because Christine’s remains were buried on Jan. 10 so there was no way that Palermo could have examined the body on Jan. 11,” Reyes told reporters. “Christine’s remains arrived in General Santos on Jan. 7 for her burial.”

Reyes said the family did not give Palermo consent to conduct another autopsy on Dacera.

The Daceras rejected the PNP report that the flight attendant died of aortic aneurysm because they have photos showing bruises on her body.

“They believe that she was spiked with drugs and sexually molested in either (room) 2207 and 2209 and that contributed to her death,” Reyes said.

The family believes there is an intent to cover-up the cause of Dacera’s death.

According to Reyes, the case remains unsolved as they are still waiting for the results of the autopsy the family requested from the National Bureau of Investigation.

“This case is definitely not closed. We have to identify additional respondents in Room 2207,” Reyes said.

The respondents in the case, including Dacera’s friends, said they wanted to move on with their lives after the PNP ruled out homicide.

They hope that the family would be able to accept the cause of Dacera’s death.

The PNP Crime Laboratory refused to comment if it would check the medical records of Dacera from the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express.

Brig. Gen. Steve Ludan, Crime Laboratory director, declined to say if they would ask PAL representatives for Dacera’s medical records and compare these with the PNP findings.

The Crime Laboratory earlier said a ruptured aneurysm is considered a medical condition and could lead to sudden death.

The PNP added that Dacera’s heart weighed 500 grams, larger than the normal weight of 300 grams that could be an indication that she had hypertension.

Information gathered by The STAR from Dacera’s family indicated that she was in “good physical condition.”

Dacera, 23, was found unconscious at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati on Jan. 1 after partying with her friends. – Emmanuel Tupas