Course Title: Investigative Principles and Concepts

Name of Instructor: PROF. PCOL ANTONIO C. PAULITE II, Ph.D.

Name of Learner: PCPT RONAN Y VILLAGONZALO

Class: PSCOBC Lateral Class 2020-03

Reaction Paper: Christine Dacera Case

Timeline and Facts of the Case:

December 31, 2020 (Thursday)
Christine Angelica Dacera, a 23-year old, single, a female flight attendant of Philippine
Airlines (PAL) and resident of General Santos City was seen partying with at least 11
men at the City Garden Hotel in Poblacion, Makati City to welcome the 2021 New Year.

January 01, 2021 (Friday)

Dacera called her family past midnight and told them of the gathering in the Makati
hotel. CCTV footages showed Dacera kissing a guy identifies as Valentine Rosales
before entering a room at 2:52 am. Dacera interacted with several male persons in the
hallway and by 4:13 am, she was seen being carried back by a person identified as Mr.
Dela Serna to room 2207.
Galido found Dacera in the bathtub of their room sleeping. By noon, he observed that
Dacera was turning blue and appeared no to be breathing.The male persons in the
room sought help from the hotel management. Dacera was then rushed to Makati
Medical Center where she was declared dead on arrival. The death was reported to
Makati City police.

January 02, 2021 (Saturday)

PNP medico-legal officer Police Major Michael Nick Sarmiento performed autopsy on
the body of Dacera at Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City at 9 am.
Medico-legal report by the Southern Police District Crime Laboratory Office circulated
on social media indicating that the cause of death was ruptured aortic aneurysm.
Reported also that Dacera's right hand, right thigh, knees, ankles, and right foot had
bruises and her right thigh has linear abrasion. Genital examination yielded deep healed

Page 1 of 2
lacerations and abrasions. It was also noted the Dacera’s body was embalmed prior to
the autopsy.

Observations and Comments on the Case:

Performance of Autopsy
Performing autopsy on a previously embalmed cadaver will, generally, yield unreliable
physical or forensic evidence. Experts expressed that toxicology tests will no longer be
accurate as embalming liquids were already injected into the human body.
However, in his defense, the police medico-legal officer stated that the decision to
embalm before performing autopsy is based on COVID-19 health and safety protocols
established by approved circulars of the Philippine National Police.

Filing of Criminal Case

The police referred a case of rape with homicide to the Prosecutor’s Office for
determination of probable cause as preliminary step to filing with the courts.
I propose a modified strategy: to refer a case of homicide and not include rape in the
complaint. This is because the pieces of evidence that will buttress probable cause of
rape is weak. In contrast, I suppose that lesser obstacles will be faced and that the
prosecutors may be able to determine probable cause for homicide based on the
evidences at hand.
Consequently, warrant of arrest can then be served to the suspects at large. And court
proceeding may be initiated.

Management of Information in Social Media, Mass Media, and the Press

The declaration of the police that the “CASE IS SOLVED” even if the operational
definition is based on police operation manuals has caused confusion among the
masses and consumers of social and mass media.
Sensational cases require crisis communication management. A sole competent
spokesperson should have been assigned to face the press and reporters. Varying
opinions or statements expressed by multiple members of the police organization
caused disarray and added misperceptions on the Dacera case.

-end-

Page 2 of 2