DOJ remands Dacera case vs 11 to Makati prosecutor

MANILA, Philippines — The cases filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against 11 people in connection with the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera were endorsed yesterday for a separate premilinary investigation to the Makati prosecutor’s office, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

The NBI has filed charges before the DOJ 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 de Lima.

Their lawyer Neptali Maroto and Southern Police District medico-legal officer Michael Nick Sarmiento were also charged.

The complaint for rape with homicide earlier filed by the Philippine National Police against some of the respondents remains pending with the Makati prosecutor’s office.

“These two cases will be treated separately,” DOJ Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said.

Last week, the NBI filed charges of reckless imprudence against Rapinan, Chen, De Lima and Dela Serna. They allegedly neglected Dacera’s condition, which “led to her untimely death.”

Facing charges of obstruction of justice are Rosales, Galido, Dela Serna, De Guzman, Rapinan, Chen, Englis, Macalla and Maroto.

The NBI also accused Rosales of administering illegal drugs.

A case for perjury was filed against Galido, Dela Serna and Macalla who allegedly gave false testimonies.

The NBI also recommended the filing of drug charges against Rosales and Galido.

According to the NBI, Rosales and Galido allegedly tried to give away illegal drugs during the party at a Makati hotel on Jan. 1.

The NBI filed a complaint for falsification of public documents against Sarmiento, who ordered the embalming of Dacera’s remains without the consent of her family.

Sarmiento allegedly declared untruthful findings in his autopsy report, the NBI said.