The Department of Tourism on Tuesday issued a show-cause order to the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City to explain why its accreditation should not be revoked following the death of a flight attendant in one of its rooms.
The hotel's general manager, Richard Reazon, was asked to submit within three days from receipt of the order an explanation on why the establishment's accreditation should not be revoked.
The order was issued after 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera was found dead in the bathtub in one of the rooms of the hotel on New Year's Day.
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Outrage After Flight Attendant Christine Dacera is Raped, Killed
Metro Manila Tourism Regional Director Woodrow Maquiling Jr. said the DOT received information that her death occurred during a New Year's Eve "party."
“We understand based on reports that several individuals have checked-in or spent the evening in one of your rooms on the said date,” Maquiling wrote.
Dacera and the suspects were at the New Year’s Eve party in the hotel before she was found unconscious in her hotel room bathtub, police said.
The flight attendant was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas, said three arrested suspects were charged with rape with homicide. Nine other are at large, Sinas said.
The death of Dacera has sparked public outrage and reignited debates on women, rape and drinking.
Reportr sought City Garden Grand Hotel for comment over the incident but was told by a staff that they were not allowed to speak on the matter.
Was the party allowed?
According to Maquiling, the Department of Tourism prohibits hotels used as quarantine facilities under the general community quarantine from providing accommodation for leisure purposes.
He also noted that “hotels accommodating guests for staycation purposes must not be concurrently used as a quarantine or isolation facility."
CNN Philippines earlier reported that the City Garden Grand Hotel is a COVID-19 quarantine hotel which means that it shouldn't be accepting guests for leisure purposes based on the tourism department's guidelines.
A quick look on the hotel's Facebook page however shows advertisements for leisure activities such as dining and even events such as weddings and birthdays as early as October 2020.
“Based on the foregoing and in the interest of due process, you are hereby directed to submit to this office, within three days from receipt of this Show Cause Order a written explanation why your DOT accreditation should not be suspended or revoked for violation of the foregoing issuances,” Maquiling said in the letter.
Dacera's mother Sharon has decried the death of her daughter, telling suspects: "Kung anumang kababuyan ginawa nyo sa anak ko, hindi deserve ni Christine yun, hindi deserve ng anak ko. 'Wag nyong gawing baboy ang anak ko, tao ang anak ko. Hindi makasalita si Christine, pinatay nyo pa."
