A flight attendant was found dead in a bathtub at a hotel in Makati while celebrating New Year’s Eve. She was Christine Dacera, 23, who chose to celebrate the holiday with at least 12 other guys.
Dacera was found lifeless, along with suspicions that she was raped. Celebrities couldn’t help but air their disgust at how Filipinos have become.
Actor Paolo Pangilinan cried justice for the death of Dacera whom police concluded died due to lacerations in her private part. He sought justice for the victim who was allegedly raped by 12 people.
— Paolo Pangilinan (@PaoPangs) January 5, 2021
However, some Netizens blamed the victim for her fate. As a result, actress Jennylyn Mercardo pleaded not to blame the victim for her misery. She emphasized that it is never right to side with the rapist since rape exists because of rapists, not the victim.
Everytime you blame the victim, you take the side of the rapist.
There is no excuse to rape.
Rape exists because of rapists
Stop victim blaming.#JusticeForChristineDacera— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) January 5, 2021
Adding to that, the actress expressed her sympathy for the family Dacera left behind. She is sure the victim will find justice.
Have a safe flight to heaven Christine.
We will make sure that you get the justice you deserve.
The whole truth will come out.#JusticeForChristineDacera— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) January 5, 2021
Victim blaming is prominent among Filipinos, which angered celebrities on such perception.
Actor Richard Juan was sickened by how people tend to blame the victim and not the rapist.
Victim blaming is still a thing? Come on, it’s 2021. Grow the f*ck up.
— 范鴻志 RICHARD JUAN 홍준 (@richardjuan) January 5, 2021
Rape occurs not because of how women wear their clothes, nor how they drink. Rape exists because of rapists. And that’s what Frankie Pangilinan stressed in her Twitter post. Those people tend to blame the victim and not the rapist.
it is never the clothes, never the drinks — never the victim, period. it is always, ALWAYS, the rapist’s fault. how many more times do we have to hammer this home for it to stick in your thick skulls, please??!??!
— kakie (@kakiep83) January 4, 2021
YouTuber Janina Vela expressed her concern about how people praise men for not raping. When a woman gets raped, many blame the victim, justify the rapist’s action, and praise men who do not commit such.
I just hate how our standards are so low, we praise men for simply ✨not raping✨
— Janina Vela (@janinavela) January 5, 2021
Most celebrities shared the same thought—rape exists because of rapists. Jules Guiang pointed out that it was never the victim’s clothes that attracted sexual predators. It was the rapist who was full of lust and couldn’t control himself.
May rape dahil may rapists.
Kailanman, hindi kasalanan ng kahit sinong na-rape dahil maiksi ang suot niya. Sadyang may rapist lang na pinairal ang kagaguhan, kabastusan, at kalibugan kaya may rape.
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) January 4, 2021
Even It’s Showtime Bidaman Jin Macapagal was enraged by such news that he even wanted these predators not to believe.
Haaaaay 😭 YAWA JUD MO MGA RAPIST! Di jud nko mapugngan surok sa akong dugo ninyo!! Kamo ang mga dili angay mabuhi!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😫 https://t.co/akOmuYjdG5
— Jin Macapagal (@jinmacapagal_) January 4, 2021
Alex Medina also concurred with Jin Macapagal’s tweet. He wanted all men to die to make the world a better place.
Mamatay na sana ang lahat ng lalake nang tumino naman ang mundo
— Alex (@anakngartista) January 4, 2021
Closed but not yet solved.
The investigation is not yet complete. On Monday, January 4, PNP announced the rape-slay of Christine Dacera is already solved. However, there are still suspects at large. Such a declaration, many are baffled on how they claimed that they already solved the case of Dacera.
This left people confused about what was the truth behind the gruesome death of the flight attendant.
Singer Patricia Lasaten was disgusted by the police force’s audacity to call the case ‘solved’ with only three suspects in custody.
3 of 12 suspects arrested pero "s0lVed" na? Nakakasuka. https://t.co/tN5NSAUZfo
— Pat Lasaten 💅 (@patlasaten) January 5, 2021
Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Franco Habijan considered Dacera’s case as a complex one. What worries her more is that the justice system in the Philippines is crooked. Filipino culture is prejudice. Let alone the fact that the police are being ‘mistrusted’.
Christine’s case is so complex. Napakaraming layers.
Ang masakit: napakahirap sabihing “justice will prevail.” We have a poor justice system. Our PNP can’t be trusted. And we have a strong prejudice-chismis culture.
We are victims too.
— Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) January 5, 2021
Meanwhile, Kevin Manalo emphasized that information is crucial and reminded people not to jump to conclusions yet. He also questioned why the police released incomplete information to the public, which will lead to premature conclusions.
Information is crucial, let’s hold our emotions and reserve our judgment until we understand things better. I had to remind myself about this too.
Some questions to the PNP and media:
Why release incomplete details to the public?
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) January 5, 2021
He also pointed out that everyone wants justice for the victim and with the fact that real justice is based on facts and the truth.
I hope it’s clear as day that we all demand justice for Christine, and real justice that is based on facts and truth.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) January 5, 2021
As for the other nine yet to be found, ACT-CIS Representative Eric Yap offered a Php100,000 reward for anyone who could give valuable information to the police on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.
In a facebook post, he said: “Walang lugar sa lipunan natin ang mga sangkot sa krimen na ito. Tayo ay magbibigay ng Php100,000 para sa makikipag-ugnayan sa PNP at makakapagturo sa kinaroroonan ng mga suspek o sa mga may kinalaman sa krimen na ito na pinaghahanap pa.”
