3 arrested in alleged rape-slay of flight attendant
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) — Authorities have arrested three suspects in the alleged rape-slay of Christine Angelica Dacera, a 23-year-old flight attendant during a New Year's Eve party in a Makati City hotel.
In a statement, the Philippine National Police said John Pascual Dela Serna III, 27; Rommel Daluro Galido, 29; and John Paul Reyes Halili, 25, were also were slapped with complaints of rape with homicide at the Prosecutor’s Office in Makati City on Monday.
The PNP said nine other persons who were also with the victim during her stay at City Garden Hotel in Makati City are now being hunted by authorities. They were identified 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.
Based on initial investigation, the victim and the suspects were at a New Year's Eve party at the hotel. At past noontime of Jan. 1, Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel room. Hotel personnel tried to revive her before she was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared dead.
In a statement, the victim's employer, PAL Express, vowed support for her family in their cry for justice.
"We are extending support to the flight attendant's family at this most difficult time," PAL Express said. "Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice."
Meanwhile, House Appropriations Committee chairman Eric Yap announced a ₱100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest for each of the missing suspects in Dacera's death.
"Makikipag-ugnayan tayo sa PNP para tiyaking mapapanagot ang mga nagkasala sa krimeng ito at nananawagan din ako sa Commission on Human Rights para tutukan at bantayan ang kasong ito," he said in a statement.
[Translation: We will work with the PNP to make sure those who committed this crime will be held responsible. We are also calling on the Commission on Human Rights to keep an eye on this case.]
