'Threats on PAO chief won’t derail Ruby Rose slay probe'

Death threats received last week by Public Attorney’s Office head Persida Acosta will not derail the investigation into the Ruby Rose Barrameda murder case, the Department of Justice said Wednesday. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said death threats are "part of the job," and that Acosta is tough enough to deal with such pressures. “Nabalitaan ko yan [death threat], pero kasama siguro yan sa trabaho namin. Si PAO chief Acosta, pwedeng sabihing matigas (I heard of the reported threats against Acosta. But that is part of the job, and I can say Acosta is tough enough)," Devanadera said in an interview on dzXL radio. The PAO is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). On Tuesday, Acosta disclosed she received threats to her life, believing that such threats have something to do with the Ruby Rose Barrameda murder case. Acosta claimed that at 12:45 p.m. Thursday last week, she received an anonymous text message that said her house would be bombed. At that time, the wife and an in-law of prosecution witness Manuel Montero, and Ruby Rose’s sister Rochelle, were about to meet with her. Earlier, the suspects on the case had wanted the DOJ to drop the murder charges. On Tuesday, Acosta replaced the PAO lawyers assigned to handle the Barrameda murder case. Ruby Rose was reported missing in March 2007. Her body was found stuffed in a cemented drum in a metal container buried off the waters of Manila Bay last June 10. Montero provided information to the authorities that led to the discovery of the cadaver of Ruby Rose. He admitted participation and involvement in the abduction and killing of Ruby Rose. He expressed his intention and willingness to turn state witness in the case. Also, he pointed to the family of Ruby Rose’s in-laws as the alleged mastermind in the gruesome killing. - GMANews.TV