The Philippine National Police (PNP) has defended the Makati City Police from accusations that there had been a lapse in its investigation on the death of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said in a message to reporters, “We will not fault the local police because they were just doing their job. In the desire to have their objective of solving the case is met with such efficiency, they just thought that was it. Since the prosecutor sent back the case for further investigation that was simply it. Further investigate.”

The statement came after the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of three of the 11 suspects. The court referred further investigation to determine the circumstances behind Dacera’s death as well as culpability of the suspects.

In a three-page resolution, the investigating prosecutor also directed the police officers to submit additional evidence, such as the DNA analysis report, toxicology/chemical analysis, and the histopath examination report.

The hearing for the preliminary investigation of the case was set for Jan. 13.

Dacera was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel room in Makati last January 1. She was rushed to the hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival.