Respondents studying charges vs Dacera’s mom

MANILA, Philippines — Some of the respondents in the case involving the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera are considering filing counter-charges against her mother for allegedly concocting lies against them.

Mike Santiago, lawyer for five of the 11 respondents, accused Dacera’s mother of perjury, malicious prosecution, libel and incriminating innocent persons.

Santiago said his clients were also contemplating seeking moral damages.

Perjury charges may also be filed against the witnesses of the Dacera camp, he added.

“She was insistent her daughter was raped when the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) declared otherwise. We will file counter charges against the people who are concocting lies one after the other,” Santiago said at a press briefing. “They want to force the issue that there was rape with homicide.”

Last week, the NBI filed charges against Mark Anthony Rosales, Rommel Galido, John Pascual dela Serna III, Darwin Joseph Macalla, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan, Alain Chen, Reymar Englis and Louie Delima before the Department of Justice.

The respondents were with Dacera when she was found unresponsive at a Makati hotel on Jan. 1.

Their lawyer Neptali Maroto and Southern Police District medico-legal officer Michael Nick Sarmiento, who ordered the embalming of Dacera’s remains without the consent of her family, were also included in the complaint.

The NBI said Rapinan, Chen, De Lima and Dela Serna should be prosecuted for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for neglecting Dacera’s condition, which “led to her untimely death.” The bureau also accused Rosales of administering illegal drugs.

Galido and Rosales were also charged over their alleged attempt to give away illegal drugs.

The NBI recommended the filing of perjury raps against Dela Serna, Galido and Macalla.

The police report maintained that Dacera died of aortic aneurysm. But her family believes that she was given drugs and sexually abused.