Persons previously identified as having been in the company of the flight attended who was found unconscious in a Makati hotel may still come to the police and provide information that could shed light on the investigation.

This is the position of the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the decision of the Makati City Prosecutors Office to release the three persons placed under police custody after reviewing the information submitted regarding the death of Christine Angelica Dacera.

“The 72 hours may still have bearing for those (previously) identified (as) suspects to come out. This is for their own benefit if they want their names cleared right away,” said PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana.

“While the ultimatum is moot and academic in view of the Resolution from the prosecutor, suspects presenting themselves to the investigators even beyond the 72 hours will be positively welcomed by the police while the investigation continues,” he added.

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said that the 72-hour deadline he gave for the nine remaining “suspects” is applicable since the PNP has a subpoena power. He said that he delegated such power to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) which he had tasked to conduct an investigation on the Dacera case.

On Tuesday night, Sinas warned of arrest that includes use of force, if the “suspects” would not surrender within 72 hours. He also gave the same warning to those who are aware of their whereabouts.

Usana said that they cannot consider the decision of the Makati City Prosecutors Office as a setback since the case was not junked.

“As a matter of procedure, the prosecutor did not consider the case as without basis because there is a death investigation going on. It simply returned the case to the police for further investigation and to gather additional evidence,” said Usana.

In junking the case, the Prosecutors Office cited lack of evidence to prove that Dacera was raped and killed. It added that the police did not also present enough proof on aortic aneurysm stated as the cause of her death was triggered by something.

“This is how the machinery of the justice system works. Prosecutors and police investigators work together to strengthen evidence to pinpoint levels of responsibility from the suspects, who have been already identified in the Dacera case,” said Usana.