Revilla siblings face murder raps for Ram Revilla's death

(Updated 6:33 p.m.) Two siblings of aspiring actor Ramgen "Ram" Revilla have been charged with murder and frustrated murder for the killing of their brother. They are half-siblings of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. The police, quoting a "star witness," said Ram's brother, Ramon Joseph "RJ" Bautista, 18, was the mastermind. Sister Ramona Bautista, 20, also conspired with RJ, pretending to have been kidnapped, the police said. In a press conference on Tuesday, police said that they have filed murder and frustrated murder charges against Ram Revilla's siblings Ramona and RJ. The murder rap is for the killing of Ramgen while the frustrated murder rap is for the failed killing of Janelle Manahan, Ramgen's girlfriend. Also charged were Michael Altea and Roy Francis Tolisora, who were arrested by police. Ramona and three other suspects are still at large, while RJ is already in police custody. The police, quoting "star witness" Ruel Puzon, said RJ masterminded Ram's murder and paid P200,000 for the crime. “‘Yung pito ay nag-conspire sa isa’t isa, pinlano nila ‘yung pagpatay kay nasirang Ramgen. Nag-usap-usap sila at ito nga ay pinatunayan ng ating witness," said Chief Inspector Enrique Sy, who heads the task force looking into Revilla’s killing, in an interview aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras" newscast.
Puzon was reportedly among those who planned the murder but that he did not actually take part in the crime. He supposedly surfaced after being bothered by his conscience. Ramona also conspired with RJ, pretending to have been kidnapped by the suspects who killed their brother, the police said. However, authorities are still not in the position to say who exactly shot and stabbed Ram other than noting that they are now sure the motive was a feud among the siblings. The police called on Ramona and the three other suspects at-large to surrender and help in the investigation. The Revilla family earlier expressed disbelief that RJ was involved in the murder of his brother. Sen. Revilla is the half-brother of Ram and RJ. 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. Former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. is now in stable condition after having been rushed to the hospital earlier in the day. He was brought to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City right after his son JR was questioned by the police in connection with the death of elder brother Ram. The grandmother of RJ defended her grandson. “Imposible, kasi kasama siya sa papuntang Baguio na pupuntahan nila ang recognition sa PMA sa isang kapatid. Kaya nagtataka kaming lahat. Pero siyempre wala tayong magagawa. Pulis iyan, inimbita ka, sumunod tayo sa batas," said RJ’s grandmother Laddielyn Madrigal in another interview aired on “24 Oras."
Madrigal said she does not see any motive for RJ to mastermind his own brother's killing. “Noong maliliit sila, talagang close silang lahat. Noong lumalaki sila, may jealousy, siyempre. Pero not to the extent na gagawa naman itong bata ng gano’n," she said. Meanwhile, Ram's remains will be buried Wednesday afternoon. — VS/PE/ELR/HS, GMA News