Respondents in Dacera case appeal for P600k bounty on their heads to be lifted
The respondents in the Christine Dacera case are asking for the bounty on their heads to be recalled.
Senator Manny Pacquiao, who is seeking the reinstatement of the death penalty, offered a P500,000 reward for the arrest of the suspects on Jan. 5; ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap offered P100,000, also on Jan. 5.
In an interview with Karen Davila on ANC’s Headstart today, Jan. 8, Atty. Mike Santiago, who represents four men who were with Dacera during the New Year’s Eve celebration where she died, said, “We are actually appealing to Congressman Yap and to Senator Pacquiao to recall the bounty being offered because this affects the safety and security of these gentlemen…Considering nga may mga sumusunod sa kanila, merong mga nagsu-surveillance or nagvi-video sa labas ng bahay nila. We are willing naman, ‘yung mga kliyente namin na harapin at sagutin po ang reklamo na ito.”
Davila asked the respondents how the bounty has affected their security.
Clark Rapinan said, “Sobrang hirap po, sobrang nakakatakot. Also, sobrang hirap na nakikita 'yung parents ko na nahihirapan. Kahapon nung lumabas kami ng bahay, merong sumunod sa amin, may nagvi-video ng sinakyan naming kotse….Yung mother ko alalang-alala. Ang hirap makita silang ganun, na nahihirapan. Nakakatakot, ang hirap.”
On Wednesday, the Makati City Prosecutors’ Office referred the case of Christine Dacera back to the police for further investigation. It also ordered the release of three suspects who were detained pending preliminary investigation. “At this point, the pieces of evidence so far submitted are insufficient to establish that she was sexually assaulted or raped. And if sexual assault/rape was committed, who is/are the person/s responsible?” the resolution said.
The resolution said the police officers do not have yet additional evidence including a DNA analysis report, toxicology/chemical analysis and histopath examination.
Dacera died at City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati on Jan. 1. The family lawyer Roger Reyes told reporters on Tuesday that the victim’s mother, Sharon Dacera, “is contemplating on filing a case against the hotel. The hotel allowed 9 to 10 individuals at Room 2209 and seven persons in another room–2207. We believe that is against the regulations of the IATF for the operations of hotels.”
On 24 Oras yesterday, Sharon Dacera was asked to comment on the pleas of innocence of Christine’s self-admitted gay friends, said, “Eh ‘di wow nga! Eh ‘di wow, wow, wow! Ganoon na lang sabihin ko sa kanila. Sige lang. Alam ng Diyos ang totoo.”
Watch the interview here.