Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas has issued an ultimatum against the nine suspects still at large in the alleged rape-slay of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera.

“This is a fair warning. Surrender within 72 hours or we will hunt you down using force if necessary,” Sinas was quoted in a PNP statement.

Sinas made the remark on Tuesday evening even without an arrest warrant being issued by a court.

As of this posting, three suspects have already been taken to police custody while nine others are still at large.

“We know who you are. Your family must turn you over to the police,” Sinas said, adding that, “Those found to be abetting your escape will also be arrested.”

However, for some human rights advocates, conducting hot pursuit operations without an arrest warrant violates the law.

Human rights lawyer Sol Taule said on Twitter: “There can be no manhunt w/o a warrant of arrest. Police cannot also conduct hot pursuit operations.”

Dacera was found dead in the bathtub of her hotel room in Makati on January 1.

He was last seen with the 11 suspects in CCTV footage of the hotel.