Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas issued a statement threatening the remaining suspects of the alleged Dacera ‘rape-slay’ case to surrender or the PNP will hunt them down. Sinas made the said statement despite having no legal warrant to arrest the alleged suspects.
Because of this, journalists and netizens took to social media to call out his statement on arresting the suspects with no warrant.
Firstly, Columnist Francis Baraan IV wrote how the PNP deliberately shifted the blame to the 11 guys in the hopes that they seem competent. He also speculated that PNP hopes that the public forgets their recent mishaps and abuse of power.
WTF. This looks like PNP is using Dacera case to deliberately make the 11 guys look bad—to make themselves look competent—hoping to make us forget about the flak they got after a cop shot some1, & after public scrutiny over the systemic abuse of power w/in their ranks heightened! https://t.co/6v8irrIbao
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) January 5, 2021
Then, columnist JC Punongbayan wrote that the investigation is starting to become a ‘hot mess.’
https://twitter.com/jcpunongbayan/status/1346449465561890817
Columnist Tonyo Cruz also wrote his opinion demanding Sinas’ resignation.
Bakit daw pinagreresign si Sinas…
ALANGAN NAMANG PURIHIN ANG GAGO AT PALPAK
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) January 5, 2021
Reporter Mariz Umali retweeted the news from GMA, quoting Sinas’ threats.
PNP Chief Sinas: “We know who you are. Your famIly must turn you over to the police. Those found to be abetting your escape will also be arrested.” @gmanews
— Mariz Umali (@marizumali) January 5, 2021
Finally, Journalist Maria Ressa called out Sinas’ threats on the alleged suspects.
C'mon! Without warrant, Sinas threatens to 'hunt down' suspects in Dacera death https://t.co/hvK8nwl5MN by @ramboreports
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) January 5, 2021
Netizens also reacted to PNP Chief Sinas’ threats.
One netizen wrote that Sinas should read the reports before creating damage to the parties involved.
I think Sinas should read their own reports before they make any more damage. https://t.co/nEQQ4s9vpW
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) January 5, 2021
Another netizen pointed out that Sinas statement translates to him being “Pabida.”
https://twitter.com/Vncntvl1/status/1346511110166351872
Finally, one netizen noted that the power to release warrants comes from judges and not from people who would happily arrest someone on mere hearsay or whisper of a hunch.
https://twitter.com/elmitanyo/status/1346442209583714310
The death of the 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Dacera after a New Year’s Eve party at the City Garden Grand Hotel Makati remains a developing story, as PNP alleged her case ‘rape-slay’ with them naming 11 male suspects. Three of the suspects already surrendered to the police.
The case sparked outrage on social media. However, as of this writing, the case remains unsolved as several elements still in play; including angles of a natural cause of death through the ruptured aortic aneurysm; police autopsy alleging healed lacerations on the victim’s thighs and contusions on her knees, the use of drugs to spike the Dacera’s drink; the family requesting for an independent autopsy on the body contradicting police findings; and the Makati City Prosecutor’s office ordering the release of the suspects due to insufficient evidence submitted by the police. Suffice to say that the Dacera case is far from over.
