Dacera family insists on DNA test, says PNP report on Christine's death 'kalokohan'

Claiming possible police coverup, Christine Dacera's family on Friday pressed for a DNA test on the specimens used in examining the flight attendant's body, as they doubted the police medico legal report that says she died of natural causes.

"The Dacera family decided to insist on a DNA examination of all specimens mentioned by Dr. Palmero, of all organs allegedly examined inside the body of Christine," said lawyer Brick Reyes, the family's spokesperson.

The DNA examination, Reyes said, is to ensure that the organs examined were those of Christine's. He said they are willing to wait even if the DNA examination will take some time just to establish the truth in Christine's death.

"Malay mo pinalitan ang mga organs dito," Reyes said, adding the test should be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.

"If we can establish that some organs are not the organs of Christine, then we have a different situation," he added. "That means to say mayroon ng kalokohan dito."

Cover-up?

The medico legal report, signed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Palmero, medico legal officer, states that Dacera, 23, died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm triggered by an increase in blood pressure.

Reyes pointed out that it is impossible that Christine had an enlarged heart because of her profession. He cited a medical report from Philippine Airlines, saying that Christine's heart was normal.

"Hindi maaari na mayroong siyang enlarged heart, otherwise lumabas na 'yun sa medical examination ng Philippine Airlines. Mayroon kaming kopya dito ng kaniyang medical examination sa PAL," Reyes said.

"The PAL medical examination states heart, normal. No hypertension. So, walang ebidensiya na may enlarged heart... Paano mag-enlarge heart ang 23-year-old flight attendant traveling 30,000 feet above sea level, four times a day?" he added.

Reyes further alleged that there could be a cover-up in the case.

"Palagay namin, [may] cover-up na naman dito," he said.

"I think a lot of people will be involved if we can confirm through the DNA results that these are not specimens from the body of Christine," he added.

GMA News Online has asked the police for comment regarding the claim of the Dacera's camp that there was cover-up in the investigation on Christine's death.

The family believes Christine was sexually assaulted prior to her death on New Year's Day after a night of partying with friends at a Makati City hotel.  

Amid the latest medical report stating that she died of natural causes, the family maintains that there was foul play in Christine's death.

"Naniniwala sila (family) na there was drugs and sexual molestation of Christine," Reyes said, reiterating that bruises were found on Christine's body indicating that she could have struggled.   --KBK, GMA News