Palace: Airport authorities reviewing CCTV for Ramona's escort

Authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are reviewing closed-circuit television footage of the departure of Ramona Bautista – a suspect in the murder of her brother Ramgen Revilla last Oct. 28 – to identify who “escorted" her to her flight. Ramona and Ramgen are half-siblings of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also brushed off insinuations of a double standard where Ramona could go scot-free while personalities like former President Gloria Arroyo could not. “Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado has ordered his personnel to identify through the CCTV footage who escorted Ramona to the departure area. He also ordered the preservation of the CCTV footage," Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio. However, he said there is doubt as to whether NAIA personnel had escorted Ramona since the CCTV footage showed she had no escort at the airport’s restricted area. Ramona, who police had linked to the fatal shooting and stabbing of her brother Ramgen, took a flight to Hong Kong Friday night. While Ramona initially told police she was abducted by the perpetrators, she retracted this story and said she was too shocked to act. Citing Honrado’s initial findings, Lacierda said Ramona appeared to have a companion at the lobby area, but the CCTV footage showed Ramona was alone in going from the immigration to the restricted area. “Sa sinasabing may nag-escort sa kanya, wala yan sa restricted area (If she had an escort, that escort likely left her at the restricted area)," he said. “NAIA personnel could enter the restricted area. Based on this assumption, if Ramona had an escort, this escort is not likely a part of NAIA personnel," he added. Meanwhile, Lacierda brushed aside questions about a supposed double standard for Ramona and Arroyo, who is seeking permission to go abroad supposedly to seek medical help. He said that while Arroyo is on the immigration’s watch list, there is no such order that applied to Ramona. “Former President Arroyo is on the watchlist order and Ramona. my understanding from my discussions with Gen. Honrado... walang hold departure order o watch list order," he said. “Immigration therefore had no authority to prevent Ramona from leaving the country," he added. — LBG, GMA News