Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has revealed he was family friends with the Filipino flight attendant who died after allegedly being raped at a New Year’s Eve party — and called for the death penalty in her case.
Pacquiao, who is now a senator in the Philippines, told DZRH News that he knew 23-year-old Philippine Airlines stewardess Christine Angelica Dacera, 23, as her family were friends from his hometown of General Santos City.
He offered a reward of more than $10,000 for information over the death, while appealing to those responsible to come forward and confess.
The former boxing champ also cited it as a case that proves his homeland should bring back the death penalty, according to ABS CBN.
“What I don’t like most of all is rape with murder, so I am pushing for the death penalty,” Pacquiao said, according to the report.
The 42-year-old boxer made his comments Tuesday after 11 men were hit with preliminary charges of rape with homicide — but before they were released Wednesday after prosecutors decried a lack of evidence.
Police in Makati City had insisted at least one of the men celebrating the new year with Dacera had raped her, insisting everyone with her was equally responsible if they failed to protect her.
But prosecutors insisted Wednesday that they had failed to prove she was raped, let alone if it was responsible for her death after she was found unresponsive in an empty bathtub early Jan. 1 at the City Garden Grand Hotel.
Police were given until Jan. 13 to produce more evidence.