Recently, after her tragic New Year’s Eve death became public, Christine Angelica Dacera has been in the news.
But who was she, how did she die, and was anybody convicted of her death? Christine, 23, came from General Santos City, Philippines, as a flight attendant.
She was also known by friends as “Ica,” as well.
She also graduated from Mindanao University of the Philippines, in addition to becoming a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines.
“An official statement about Christine and her death was released by UP Mindanao, which read: “Ms. Ica was an example of honor and excellence in combining her academics and her passion for the performing arts.
May you rest in peace and the memories of your kind-hearted soul continue to bless the hearts of the people you’ve touched in your remembrance. You will be missed, Ica.”
In her hotel room, where she was celebrating New Years’ with some friends, Christine was found dead in a bath.
In the town of Makati, Manila, she checked into the four-star City Garden Hotel.
Rommel Galida, one of her colleagues, said he woke up at around 10 am and found her sleeping in the water.
Mr. Galida said that before going back to sleep, he covered the Filipino stewardess with a blanket. He says that when he woke up several hours later, he found her unconscious and began turning blue.
The stewardess of Philippines Airlines was given CPR by fellow cabin crew members, but she failed to respond.
Three friends and hotel workers then rushed her to Makati Hospital, but doctors ruled the flight attendant dead on arrival.
Investigators said they suspected foul play at the time of the incident as Christine’s body had bruises and injuries, including on her thighs and knees. The Philippine police in Makati City filed a preliminary charge of rape for the death of Christine with murder against 11 men.
Makati City Police Chief Colonel Harold Depositar said the group was filed with the prosecutor’s office yesterday with a provisional charge of rape with homicide again.
These men were alleged with Christine and, at the time of her death, were occupying two adjacent hotel rooms in the area.
Depositar said the charge filed was provisional as the prosecutor’s office would be waiting for the autopsy results and Christine’s toxicology report, which would be submitted today by the Makati City police.
Speaking about the accused, he said: “Only three of them (the respondents) were friends with Dacera.”
“The others were practically strangers to her, as they were only known to her three friends.”He also noted that everyone who was at the party with Christine was charged with her murder, according to News Strait Times.
When asked about the rape element of the charge, Depositar said: “The victim had lacerations and sperm in her genitalia.”
He added that her arms and legs still had bruises, contusions, and scratches.
Source: The Sun