Philippine Airlines flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera died of natural causes, the medico-legal report presented by the police to the Makati City prosecutors office showed.
Based on the report signed by PNP medico-legal officer Police Lt. Col. Joseph Palmero on Jan. 11, the 23-year-old Dacera died due to ruptured aortic aneurysm.
“Based on the available information on hand the manner of death is classified as natural death,” Palmero stated in his report, which was presented during Wednesday’s preliminary investigation of the rape with homicide case.
He said: “Manner of death as homicide is ruled out in Dacera’s case because the aortic aneurysm is considered a medical condition. Rape and/or drug overdose will not result to the development of aneurysms,”
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the National Bureau of Investigation has asked the PNP for certain specimens and copies of the medical record of Dacera to complete its investigation.
“I understand that they have requested a certain specimen from the PNP and copies of Ms. Dacera’s medical records to complete the whole picture,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters.
Guevarra admitted the NBI’s forensic team is already done with its toxicology report, but he is leaving it up to the agency to decide when to disclose the outcome of its toxicological examination.
“The NBI Forensic Team is ready with their toxicology report. I will leave it to them to disclose their findings,” he said.
The Justice Secretary earlier said the NBI agents are also examining the data in the mobile phones of those considered “persons of interest” in the Dacera case, and that some of them have been subjected to drug tests.
Palmero also said in his report that “no alcohol or recreational drugs Dacera took on New Year’s Eve, the night prior her death, will cause a kind of defect on her aorta.”
“That dilatation is a chronic condition and was present long before she died. If she did not die that fateful night, she will die in any scenario that represents an activity that will increase her blood pressure strong enough to tear that aneurysm,” he added.
The report further stated while aneurysm is more common among the elderly because of atherosclerosis, it could also happen in younger persons due to other reasons.
Dacera’s heart also weighed 500 grams, larger than the normal 300 grams, which the report said supported her apparently undiagnosed hypertension.
The next hearing is scheduled on Feb. 3.
Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of her room at City Garden Hotel around noon of Jan. 1, a day after she celebrated New Year with her friends and acquaintances at the establishment.
The police filed with the Makati City prosecutor’s office charges of rape with homicide against at least 11 suspects who reportedly joined Dacera celebrating the New Year.
The authorities initially arrested and detained three of the 11 suspects, but they were ordered released by the city prosecutor for lack of probable cause.
Initial police investigation showed that the victim had lacerations and sperm in her genitalia, while bruises, scratches and contusions were found on her arms and legs, indicating there was the use of force.
The prosecutor ordered the police to conduct further investigation saying they needed to know if Dacera was indeed raped or killed, and to identify the persons responsible, and to establish the actual cause of death.
Top Philippine National Police officials maintain there was no lapse on the part of the Makati City police in its investigation.
