Mom of slain flight attendant said she trusted her daughter’s co-workers

The mother of the flight attendant who was found lifeless in a Makati hotel room said she allowed her daughter to attend a New Year’s Eve celebration with friends and colleagues because she trusted them.

According to Emil Sumangil’s “24 Oras” report on Monday, 23-year-old Christine Dacera was found dead in a bathtub on January 1st.

She was rushed to a hospital but declared dead on arrival due to ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Makati police said there were indications of foul play in her death.

“Meron siyang mga pasa, meron siyang mga contusions sa both knees and then meron siyang abrasions… pero isa lang ‘yun na mahaba. Meron definitely sexual contact,” Makati police chief Police Colonel Harold Depositar said.

The victim’s General Santos City-based mother, Sharon, said Christine asked for permission to attend a New Year’s Eve party with friends.

The victim even called her family past 12 a.m. on January 1.

“‘Sinong kasama mo, ‘nak?’ ‘Siyempre, ‘yung mga friends ko po rin na flight attendant.’ Sabi ko sino, so ‘yun pinakita niya sa’kin mga flight attendants. So, in short, since I really trust my daughter, [sabi] ko ‘Basta enjoy ka ‘te ha, enjoy enjoy lang ‘nak.’” she said.

“Wala akong any presumption na something will happen to my daughter, because siyempre ang kasama niya, mga kasamahan niya ring flight attendant.”

Twelve hours later, the family was informed by Christine’s friend, who was also in the hotel with her, that she had died.

“‘Bakit, ano ba nangyari sa anak ko?’ ‘Namatay na.’ So no’ng nagsabi siya na namatay na, ‘Ha? Nag-usap pa kami kanina 12:34 in the morning.’ Hindi ko alam kung anong gawin ko because physically, I’m not with my daughter,” Sharon said through tears.

Authorities said Christine was with 11 other people, three of whom have been arrested and eight remain at large.

They are set to face charges for rape with homicide.

“Ba’t kailangan gawin ‘yun nila sa anak ko? I want to seek justice. Justice for my daughter na sana hindi rin ‘yan mangyari sa anak nila. Ni-rape nila ang anak ko. Sana hindi ‘yan mangyari sa kapatid niya, sa anak niya. Ayaw kong may mabiktima pa sila ulit,” Sharon said.

The family also said they believed that Christine was set-up.

“Hindi inaasahan ng biktima na sa gabing ‘yun, ‘yun ang mga makakasama niya. Let’s just put it that way. She was supposed to be with friends and she was not supposed to be with strangers. She was with friends and suddenly, dumami sila,” the family’s counsel, Atty. Jose Ledda, said.

Depositar said there were several bottles of liquor in the hotel room.

“Nag-invite sila ng friends of friends, something like that, ‘no, and I think most if not all are gays also, bisexual, and then they had a party starting mga 10 or 11:30. It continues until the following morning,” he said.

“May binitawang salita si Christine na tinanong itong kaibigan niya, sabi niya, ‘Parang may nilagay si name doon sa drinks ko kasi nag-iba ‘yung pakiramdam ko,’” he added.

Police said they were yet to confirm whether something was put in the victim’s drink.

CCTV footage also showed Christine and one guy transferring to a different hotel room.

It was not until the following morning that the victim was carried back to her original room.

“Ang gusto lang naman sana ni Christine is magsaya no’ng yearend party na ‘yun. Kung anumang kababuyan ginawa niyo sa anak ko, hindi deserve ni Christine ‘yun… Wag niyo gawing baboy ang anak ko, tao ang anak ko,” the grieving mother said.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News