New twist in 'gang rape-homicide' of flight attendant
Home-Decor | 7 Jan 2021
One of nearly a dozen men linked to the suspected gang rape and homicide of Philippine Airlines Express flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera during a New Year's Eve party has denied he participated in the alleged crimes.
Gregorio de Guzman, the son of a formerly famous singer, said accusations that he took part in a gang rape was "absurd because I am gay."
De Guzman added all the men at the party - the suspects - were gay.
"Every one of them was gay," he told a news program. "My impression of her was she liked to hang out with us, LGBT members.
"She was comfortable with us. The entire time she was really comfortable with every one of us."
De Guzman, who also works as a flight attendant, told another program: "How can there be rape? I'm gay. I have never had sex with a woman."
Dacera, 23, was found dead in a hotel bathtub after a party with workmates at the City Garden Hotel in Makati, the business hub of the Philippines. Although initial reports suggested Dacera died from an aneurysm, police said they believe she had been gang raped and killed.
She had "lacerations and sperm in her genitalia," Makati police said, as well as "bruising and scratches on her arms and legs."
Eleven men have been charged with rape and homicide, but only three men - Dacera's friends - have been arrested so far. De Guzman is one of the eight being sought by police.
"The others were practically strangers to her as they were only known to her three friends," Makati City police chief Harold Depositar told Philippine media. Depositar also said the three arrested suspects gave conflicting stories to investigators.
The charges are provisional depending on an official autopsy and toxicology results.
De Guzman said he only got to know Dacera at the party. He said he went to sleep after partying, then woke up to find the victim lying unconscious in the bathtub. He said he tried to revive Dacera. "I checked if she was breathing. There was nothing. I checked her heartbeat. There was nothing as well. I said, 'Babe, wake up, please.' And then I started to give her CPR," De Guzman said.
"We carried her out of the tub by her arms. She was still warm. That's why I thought I could still save her."
He said he and other partygoers brought Dacera to hospital and then reported what occurred to Makati police.
"We were there. We did not abandon [Dacera] until the end," De Guzman said.
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