On January 1, 2021, a 23 year-old PAL flight attendant named Christine Angelica Dacera was found unconscious in a bathtub at the City Garden Hotel located in Makati City by her friend Rommel Galida. Christine was first rushed to the hotel clinic to undergo cardio respiratory resuscitation or CPR by the hotel security manager Peter Paul Poningcos, but still remained unresponsive.

According to the investigation from Makati Police, three friends and hotel staff then rushed Christine to Makati Medical Center but was declared dead-on-arrival due to ruptured aortic aneurysm.

In an interview of GMA News, the mother of the flight attendant said she allowed her daughter to attend a New Year’s Eve celebration with friends and colleagues because she “trusted” them.

Makati police said there were indications of foul play in her death.

“Meron siyang mga pasa, meron siyang mga contusions sa both knees and then meron siyang abrasions. Pero isa lang ‘yun na mahaba. Meron definitely sexual contact,” Makati police chief Police Colonel Harold Depositar said.

The victim even called her family past 12 midnight on January 1.

“‘Sinong kasama mo, ‘nak?’ ‘Siyempre, ‘yung mga friends ko po rin na flight attendant.’ Sabi ko sino, so ‘yun pinakita niya sa’kin mga flight attendants. So, in short, since I really trust my daughter, [sabi] ko ‘Basta enjoy ka ‘te ha, enjoy enjoy lang ‘nak.’” she said.

Twelve hours later, the family was informed by Christine’s friend, who was also in the hotel with her, that she had died.

“Bakit, ano ba nangyari sa anak ko?’ ‘Namatay na.’ So no’ng nagsabi siya na namatay na, ‘Ha? Nag-usap pa kami kanina 12:34 in the morning.’ Hindi ko alam kung anong gawin ko because physically, I’m not with my daughter,” The mother said.

On January 4, the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared that the rape-slay case was solved — this is despite most of the suspects still remained on the loose. According to the PNP's official post, three suspects are in police custody and have been charged for the crime of rape with homicide, namely John Pascual dela Serna III, Rommel Daluro Galido, and John Paul Reyes Halili. Police identified the nine other persons of interest who are the subjects of "follow-up operations" as Gregorio Angelo de Guzman, Louie de Lima, Clark Jezreel Rapinan, Rey Englis, Mark Anthony Rosales, Jammyr Cunanan, Valentine Rosales, "a certain Ed Madrid," and "a certain Paul.”

Meanwhile, Filipinos are on the victim-blaming game once again as some Facebook comments on news articles are questioning why the victim even attended a party with her male friends. One even said "may fault ang biktima diyan, 'di mangyayari kung hindi siya sumama sa mga barkada niya [na] puro lalaki," and one even insisted that she only wanted to drink to look cool.

The issue has then sparked conversations regarding victim-blaming and rape culture, with "#JusticeForChristineDacera," "#StopVictimBlaming," and "#ProtectDrunkGirls" becoming the trending topics on Twitter since last night.

“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 said on her tweet. While Bianca Gonzales wrote "Rape happens because of rapists, not because anyone 'asked for it,” Frankie Pangilinan also said "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? Christine Dacera shouldn't have needed protection. Enough of that dialogue. She was a woman who deserved basic, human decency."

Christine, also known as "Ica," was a flight attendant in Philippine Airlines and graduated cum laude from the University Of The Philippines - Mindanao. She was also part of her school's dance troupe and joined several beauty pageants. UP Mindanao released an official statement on January 3 and part of it reads: "Ms. Ica was an exemplar of honor and excellence in balancing her academics and passion for performing arts. May you rest in peace and the memories of your kind-hearted soul continue to bless the hearts of the people you've touched in your remembrance. You will be missed, Ica."

The Philippine Airlines also mourns the death of flight attendant: "She was an upstanding and professional PAL Express crew member who will be sorely missed by her colleagues and friends. We are extending full support to the flight attendant's family at this most difficult time. Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice."