Five respondents in the Dacera case have appealed for the withdrawal of the bounty offered in exchange for their capture amid safety and security concerns.
According to the respondents’ legal counsel, Atty. Mike Santiago, his clients have already appeared for investigation.
“Mayroong pagkakataon na sila’y minamanmanan sa kanilang mga tahanan, vini-video po sila, sinusundan ‘yung kanilang mga sasakyan ng mga kahina-hinalang tao (There are times when they are being watched in their houses, videos are shot, and their cars are followed by suspicious individuals),” Santiago disclosed.
Meanwhile, the five respondents explained the times they were seen going in and out of their hotel room 2209 to go to room 2207. They admitted not being acquainted with anyone in 2207, except for a friend who invited them over. They had to fetch Dacera several times from the other room, claiming that it was she who asked to go to there.
“Lahat ‘yun hindi namin kilala. Si Ed Madrid lang ‘yung kilala namin sa room na ‘yun (We do not know any of them. We only know Ed Madrid in that room),” JP Dela Serna stated.
“The only time na nakilala namin ‘yung 2207 is dahil sa friend namin na may kilala roon sa loob ng 2207. Doon lang nagkakilala lahat (We only got to know those in 2207 because of our friend who knew some people inside 2207. That is the only time when we all got acquainted),” he added.
The respondents also commented on the alleged spiking of Dacera’s drink with an unknown substance.
“Nag-i-ilusyon lang ba siya dahil lasing siya? Hindi ko alam, pero ‘yun ‘yung sinabi niya (Was she having illusions because she was drunk? I don’t know, but that’s what she said),” Rommel Galido claimed.
“Sabi ko who (I asked who), then she replied I think Mark, I think po, I think Mark,” Galido added.
The respondents reiterated that they never raped Dacera and that they treated her as a sister. They added that they did not leave her when she was found lifeless. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
