Revilla family can't believe brother involved in Ram's death

The Revilla family on Tuesday expressed disbelief at the police's initial investigation that a younger brother might be involved in the killing of Ramgen "Ram" Revilla. "Hindi kami makapaniwala na may kinalaman nga siya [Joseph Bautista], hanggat hindi napapatunayan, beyond reasonable doubt, na ginawa nga niya ang ibinibintang sa kanya," the Revilla family said in a statement released by the office of Senator Bong Revilla Jr. Earlier in the day, the 18-year-old Joseph Bautista was brought in for an inquest by the Parañaque City Police in connection with the death of Ram Revilla, 22, who was stabbed and shot dead last Friday. The two lived in the same house. Sen. Revilla is the half-brother of Ram Revilla and Ramon Joseph "RJ" Bautista. Ram and RJ are the sons of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. with Genelyn Magsaysay while Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. is his father's son with Azucena Mortel. Arrested earlier were two suspects whom police identified only as Michael and Francis.

The Revilla family, however, said the police must give importance to the "credibility" of the persons who are being linked to the case. "Our family is as shocked as everyone (but) the statements should be validated, not taken on face value, alone. I call on Task Force Ramgen to make sure that the result of the investigation must not lead to irreparable damage to the innocent, especially to their family members," it said. "Ganunpaman, kung sinuman ang tunay na may kagagawan nito, kahit sino pa siya, dapat siyang managot," it added. But the family of celebrities and politicians still lamented that the inquest of Bautista had to happen even before his brother could be buried. "Hindi pa man naililibing ang isa, isinasangkot naman ang isa pa. This is a tragic death made even more tragic by the fact that a family member is being implicated," it said. — RSJ, GMA News