Pacquiao offers to ensure safety of Dacera companions

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he was still offering the P500,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of the people who were with flight attendant Christine Dacera when she died.

He said the reward would be turned into financial aid for the Dacera family if and when all "persons of interest" surrendered to investigators.

"Let it be clear however that this bounty was put up only to ensure that all the people who were present on the night leading to the discovery of Christine’s lifeless body would come forward and shed light about this incident," Pacquiao said in a statement.

"They must submit themselves to investigating authorities so that we will know what really happened," he added.

The senator said he was willing to help ensure the safety of those "involved" if they came forward.

"Nakahanda po akong tumulong upang matiyak ang inyong kaligtasan dahil ako ay naniniwala na gaya ninyo at ng pamilya ni Christine, ang tangi nating hangad ay ang malaman ang tunay na katotohanan. We all want to know the truth," he said.

Dacera, 23, was found lifeless in a Makati hotel room on January 1 following a New Year's Eve party. Her family believed she was drugged and sexually abused, but some of her friends who were accused of raping and killing her denied that they harmed her.

Prosecutors will begin a preliminary investigation on January 13 to determine whether any crime took place and, if so, who committed these crimes.

Three of Dacera's friends were detained by police but have since been released to give way to the investigation.

Pacquiao urged the others to share what they knew.

"Like them, be brave enough to share the truth. Share your story so that we may understand. Sabihin ninyo sa tunay na nangyari upang mabawasan na ang mga haka-haka tungkol sa kasong ito," he said.

"Wala pong dahilan upang kayo ay matakot kung kakampi ninyo ang katotohanan," he added.

Pacquaio earlier said he knew the Dacera family because they also hailed from General Santos City, his hometown.  — DVM, GMA News