NBI forensic exam on Dacera case complete, DOJ chief says

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has wrapped up its forensic examination of tissues taken from the remains of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera, who was found dead following a  New Year revelry with male friends inside a hotel in Makati City.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, however, did not disclose the results of the forensic examination, saying that he would leave it up to the NBI to disclose its findings.

Likewise, the DOJ secretary said the agency would still have to compare its findings with the Makati Medical Center (MMC) that reportedly also conducted laboratory tests on the 23-year-old Dacera.

He said the NBI is also set to look into the contents of the information in the mobile phones of those who have been tagged as persons of interests in the investigation.

“The NBI digital forensic team will now proceed to examine the data in the mobile phones of the persons of interest,” the justice chief added.

The NBI earlier conducted drug tests on the male individuals who rented rooms 2207  and 2209 at the City Gardens Grand Hotel in Makati City on the night prior to Dacera’s death.

Video footages showed that Dacera and her male friends occupied room 2209 of the said hotel to celebrate the New Year but they were also seen going in and out of room 2207 which was being occupied by another group of male individuals.

The result of the NBI’s forensic examination and other evidence obtained are expected to be presented before the Makati Prosecutor’s Office, which is currently conducting preliminary investigation on the incident which the police earlier said was a rape-slay case.

However, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ordered a reinvestigation because the evidence presented by the police were insufficient to establish the alleged crime.

“I understand that some of them have undergone drug testing, and the rest will also be tested. I’ll leave it to the NBI to divulge the results,” he added.

Dacera’s friends have insisted that there was no foul play in her death.