Rommel Galido, among the respondents in the death of Christine Dacera, announced that the Makati police forced them to lie in connection with the death of the 23-year-old flight attendant in exchange for their freedom.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Galido retracted his earlier statement that Dacera complained to him that Mark Anthony Rosales had put something in her drink during their New Year’s Eve party at a hotel in Makati so she said she felt different.
“Pino-force kami na dapat magsabi, magturo kami ng someone kapalit ng kalayaan namin. Siyempre, wala akong alam kung anong dapat gawin. Gulong-gulo ‘yung isip ko,” said Rommel Galido.
“Any options i-grab [ko] para matapos na ‘to kasi ayaw ko na, pagod na pagod na ‘yung katawan ko. Sabi ko do’n, si Mark. Si Mark ‘yung nasabi ko which is hindi naman dapat talaga kasi wala namang sinabi si Christine na Mark. Pero ‘yun ‘yung parang pinipilit,” he added.
Rommel Galido and two others were detained for several days at the Makati police station and were released on bail by the prosecutor to conduct a preliminary investigation to find out what really killed Dacera and if there was any rape committed.
Rommel Galido says Makati police forced him to lie
At noon on January 1, Dacera was found no longer breathing in a bathtub in the room where they were staying at the hotel.
Earlier, JP Dela Serna III, another respondent in the case, also retracted his statement that he saw Rosales carrying “powder drugs” at the party.
According to Dela Serna’s lawyer, the police were the source of the story about the alleged drugs at the party.
“Not only that they were pressured, they were intimidated, they were manipulated. Words were put into their mouths. They were subjected to psychological warfare because they lacked sleep, they were under duress,” said Atty. Mike Santiago.
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.