Lawyer: Ram Revilla's sister not in hiding but in shock

A sibling linked to the killing of Ramgen “Ram" Bautista in his house in Parañaque City last Oct. 28 is not in hiding but is still in shock, her lawyer said Wednesday. Lawyer Dennis Mansanal, who represents Ramona Bautista, 21, and suspected mastermind Ramon Joseph “RJ" Bautista, 18, also said he is mulling charges against the police for linking the two to the crime. “In shock pa ang bata (Ramona). At gusto kong linawin walang pagtago rito, hindi nagtatago, walang arrest warrant sa korte," he said in an interview on dzRH radio. The three are children of former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. with Genelyn Magsaysay. Their half-brother, Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr., is an incumbent senator.

Genelyn has denied that her children would resort to killing each other, saying they were raised as God-fearing people. Ram , 23, was attacked in his Parañaque City home last Friday night, Oct. 28. He was buried Wednesday afternoon in Imus, Cavite. His girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, was likewise attacked but survived the incident. In the radio interview, Mansanal said the charges against the siblings were baseless and questionable. He said the police should have first obtained an arrest warrant before arresting RJ. “Nag-operate sila ng walang arrest warrant. Yan ay violation ng constitutional rights ni Ramon Joseph," he said.
Mansanal also questioned the so-called star witness, Ruel Puzon, who supposedly took part in the planning but claimed he was bothered by his conscience. The lawyer insisted the RJ and Ramona were “fall guys." When asked if the Revillas will file charges against the Parañaque police, Manansal said it is one of their options. “Isa yan sa options namin, arbitrary detention at illegal arrest," he said. Earlier, police said they have temporarily stopped their search for Ramona. “Hindi na po (aarestuhin), ang jurisdiction sa prosecutor na. Kami wala nang jurisdiction para arestuhin kasi nakasampa na ang kaso," said Chief Inspector Enrique Sy, head of the task force looking into the killing, in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the only thing they can do now is to monitor Ramona’s whereabouts so they will know where to find her if a court issues a warrant for her arrest. Also implicated in the crime were Michael Altea and Roy Francis Tolisora, who were arrested by police. The police, quoting Puzon, said RJ masterminded the murder and paid P200,000 for it. But his grandmother, Laddielyn Madrigal, defended her grandson, saying she does not see any motive for him to mastermind his own brother’s killing. — KBK, GMA News