JP Dela Serna, one of the “respondents” in the death of Christine Dacera withdrew his earlier statement that one of the guests at Christine Dacera’s New Year’s Eve party at a hotel in Makati was carrying “powder drugs.”
In an earlier report, it was stated in the affidavit of JP Dela Serna, one of the respondents, that he saw Mark Anthony Rosales, another respondent, took “powder drugs” and persuaded him to use it but he refused.
But according to Atty. Abby Portugal, one of JP Dela Serna’s lawyers and four other respondents, said the drug idea allegedly came from the Makati police.
“The powder issue insinuating drug use actually came from the mouth of the PNP Makati,” said Portugal.
“It was added by them after subjecting the two detained to mental torture and misrepresentations that they will be released from detention and that no charges will be filed against them,” the lawyer added.
Dela Serna, Rommel Galido, and John Paul Halili were detained for a few days at the Makati police station but the prosecutor ordered their release while conducting a preliminary investigation into the real cause of death of Dacera.
JP Dela Serna withdraws statement that there are ‘powder drugs’ at party with Christine Dacera
According to Portugal, his clients insist that there is no drug in the party and they are negative in the drug test.
“They did not see any drugs. As per Rommel Galido, he was just told by Christine that she thinks that drug (illegal) was mixed in her drink… so purely hearsay,” said Portugal.
Earlier, Galido said that Dacera had told him that “Mark” seemed to have mixed something in her drink and that she felt different.
According to Portugal, Galido does not know if Dacera’s suspicion is really true.
The lawyer added that the statements of the five respondents in the media are true and there is no instruction from the lawyers.
Apart from the police, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also conducting a separate investigation into what happened to Dacera.
Earlier, the Makati prosecutor started the preliminary investigation and it will resume on January 27.