Suspect In Filipino Flight Attendant's Rape-Murder Case Claims He is Gay

A suspect in the controversial death of a flight attendant in the Philippines on New Year has claimed innocence, saying he is gay.

With prosecutors maintaining "the pieces of evidence so far submitted are insufficient to establish that she was sexually assaulted or raped," one of the suspects, Gregorio de Guzman, said he has never had sex with women, the New York Post reported.

"How did it become rape? I am gay. I never had sex with any woman ever in my life. Eight of the 11 accused were probably gay like us," said Guzman, the media outlet reported.

Guzman, who is the son of famous Filipino singer Claire de la Fuente, told a local news outlet he remembered the victim Christine Dacera being happy at the party and then giving her CPR the next morning after finding her unconscious.

Meanwhile, three men, out of the 11 charged in connection with the death of 23-year-old Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express flight attendant Dacera, were released from custody Wednesday. The Makati City prosecutor ordered their release, saying there was not enough evidence to establish if Dacera was sexually assaulted or raped, CNN Philippines reported.

The three accused who walked free from the court are John Serna III, Rommel Galido, and John Halili.

According to the prosecutor's office, the cause of death remains unclear.

"No evidence, medically or scientifically, was presented to prove that the cause of death or the rupture of the aortic aneurysm was because of the alleged rape. Likewise, if the homicide was committed, the person/s responsible is/are yet to be ascertained through further evidence," the resolution said, CNN Philippines reported.

Dacera's bruised and lifeless body was found in a bathtub at the Garden City Hotel on Jan. 1. She checked into the hotel with three men on New Year's eve for celebrations, and the remaining eight joined them after 10 a.m. (9 p.m. ET on Dec 30).

The CCTV footage showed Dacera was last seen alive at 6.23 a.m. on Jan. 1 (5.20 p.m. ET Dec 31). Around 12.25 p.m. (11.25 p.m. ET on Dec 31) the hotel front desk received a call from a man asking for assistance as Dacera was unconscious in the bathtub. She was rushed to Makati Medical Center where she was declared dead on arrival.

The police slapped rape and homicide charges against the 11 accused due to the presence of bruises, lacerations, and fluids on Dacera's body. But the prosecutor's office said there wasn't enough evidence to establish rape as no traces of seminal fluids were indicated in the report.

An initial autopsy report by the police medico-legal said Dacera died of a "ruptured aortic aneurysm." The prosecutor also asked the police to submit more evidence such as a DNA analysis report, toxicology, or chemical analysis.

Meanwhile, PAL Express has called for authorities to ensure truth and justice prevailed.

“Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice,” said PAL Express in a statement, the Inquirer reported.