Philippines Flight Attendant Gangrape & Murder Case: What We Know So Far

The alleged gangrape and murder of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera in the Philippines on New Year's Eve continues to cause widespread shock with new details emerging in the case. So far, 11 men have been charged for the crime against the young woman who was employed with the Philippines Airlines (PAL). Dacera's mother has claimed her daughter was “treated like a pig” and the family has appealed to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for ensuring due justice.

Here is what we know so far about the gangrape and murder of Christine Angelica Dacera: 

1. Christine Angelica Dacera, a 23-year-old flight attendant working with Philippine Airlines (PAL), was found dead in the bathtub of the four-star hotel City Garden in Makati, Manila. She had checked in there to celebrate New Year's Eve with some friends, as per reports.

2. One of her colleagues identified as Rommel Galida claimed he found Dacera asleep in the bathtub of the hotel room when he woke up around 10 am. Supposedly thinking her to be asleep, he wrapped Dacera in a blanket and went to sleep again. A few hours later, he found her unconscious and turning blue. Soon after, she was rushed to the hospital but doctors declared she was brought dead.

3. An autopsy was conducted and it was initially found that she died due to a ‘ruptured aortic aneurysm.’ However, Colonel Harold Depositar told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the deadly aneurysm may have been caused by very strenuous activity and a high level of alcohol toxicity. “For sure, there was force inflicted on her body because we found contusions in her leg and knees, and there’s an abrasion in her thigh,” he said. He further added that semen had been found “in multiple places in the hotel rooms," which has given rise to alleged gangrape allegations.

4. Dacera’s mother Sharon has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte, saying her daughter had been “treated like a pig” in the “barbaric” crime. The family is also preparing for a second autopsy after claiming that the first one was incomplete. The last time Dacera had spoken to her mother was on January 1 at midnight. This was 12 hours before her friend had informed her mother, Sharon about Dacera’s death.

5. Jose Ledda, Dacera’s family lawyer denies that the young woman could have died from consensual sex in a drunk state, and strongly believes that she was drugged and abused during the party in the hotel before this act took place. Police also mentioned Dacera had “lacerations and sperm in her genitalia.”

6. The Police in Makati have charged 11 men in connection with the death of Dacera, of which 3 have been arrested. However, one among the men who were charged with this heinous crime has denied the allegations against him claiming he is gay and couldn't have carried out a sexual act with Dacera.

7. According to a report, the suspect claimed that each man present on New Year’s Eve in the hotel was a member of the LGBT community and they thought that the woman was comfortable hanging out with them. The accused men also mentioned that they had no sexual attraction towards Dacera as they were all interested in men. Additionally, they also said that they have never been aroused by a woman around but only a man.

8. The Makati police chief said that only three men knew Dacera personally as they were her friends, the rest of them were strangers to her as they were only introduced to her by her three friends.

9. The City Garden Grand Hotel is also being investigated closely since it was reportedly a designated quarantine hotel that restricted guests from having parties.

10. PAL, Dacera's employers, have condemned the brutal crime against their employee, and stated, "We are extending full support to the flight attendant’s family at this most difficult time. Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice."

About Christine Angelica Dacera

Christine Angelica Dacera was born in Davao City in the Philippines and lived in Pasay City. She studied at the University of Philippines and worked as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines based out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila and Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) in Davao.