The public has yet to find out the whole truth behind the death of Christine Dacera. 

The 23-year-old flight attendant was found dead in the bathtub of her hotel room at noon on January 1. She was last spotted with at least 12 men, some of whom were her friends, at a New Year’s Eve party in the hotel where she was staying.

Ahead of a full investigation, the police released incomplete information on the case and declared Dacera as a victim of rape and homicide. Questions continue to hound Dacera’s death, with many speculating on the rape claim. 

With pieces of the narrative still missing, how can netizens make sure that they do not add to the confusion in the Dacera case? 

In an interview with Rappler, forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun pointed out that while information about Dacera’s case could be easily accessible in social media, Filipinos online should also be careful on what to say about the case. (READ: Forensic expert: ‘Too late’ to swab for evidence of rape in Dacera case)

“Just like the investigators, you cannot simply just blurt out what you think especially if you are a lay person and you don’t really know what you’re talking about,” Fortun stressed. 

Following the police reports, #JusticeForChristineDacera went viral triggering calls for the condemnation of rape. Others victim-blamed and shamed Dacera, even going as far as calling her dumb and flirtatious for partying with men and for being the only woman there.

Fortun stressed the importance of being sensitive to people affected by Dacera’s death, especially her family and her friends who police had tagged as suspects.

“You have to be sensitive to individuals who are really affected by this case and that would be the families, the actual people apparently accused. And you’re not even sure if there is a solid basis for the accusation,” Fortun added. 

Earlier, the police deemed the case “solved” following the arrest of 3 suspects. A Makati prosecutor later ordered their release after finding that police submitted insufficient evidence to prove the rape and homicide allegations.

Groups were quick to call out the Phllippine National Police (PNP) for the “reckless statements and careless handling” of Dacera’s case, which has “triggered a lot of rape survivors to relive their trauma.”

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Some users said it was unfair to post and share photos of suspects – Dacera’s friends – since the case they are not yet proven guilty. Other netizens deleted their earlier posts accusing her friends and even apologized online.

In her Rappler interview, Fortun stressed that any accusation made must be backed up by evidence. 

“fI you make an accusation, you better be able to back it up. That’s the basis of our adversarial system of justice. It’s the prosecution that alleges and it’s the prosecution that actually supports whatever accusation they make. So everybody has a responsibility to be more responsible in a lot of ways,” she said. 

Fortun said that police and investigators themselves have a role to play in managing information released to the public.

“Information management is part and parcel of any investigation. And there is a professional way to do it if you have professionally trained investigators. Like you do your investigation: the usual CSI, autopsy, toxicology, etc. You do your thing but at the same time, you have to decide what the public has to know,” Fortun said. 

She said that police reports and statements should be purely based on facts and should be “well-chosen.”

“One does not speculate freely. You don’t talk about intuitions, feelings, and so on. Make sure that what you are releasing is based on something factual and well-chosen. There is a reason for giving out a certain detail. You don’t just blurt out whatever comes to your mind,” Fortun said. –Rappler.com