NBI can't request INTERPOL to locate Ramona Bautista

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it cannot request the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) to place Ramona Bautista, one of the suspects in the killing of her brother Ramgen "Ram" Revilla, on their Red Notice list which would make locating her and eventually catching her easier. In a report aired over GMA 7's Flash Report, reporter Steve Dailisan quoted NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula as saying that the NBI has yet to coordinate with the INTERPOL regarding the arrest of Ramona because the INTERPOL cannot place the suspect on their Red Notice list since no warrant of arrest has been issued against her yet. The INTERPOL says a Red Notice seeks "the arrest or provisional arrest of wanted person with a view to extradition." Ramona flew out of the Philippines with the Bureau of Immigration’s consent on Friday night. BI officials said Ramona was likely on her way to Turkey where her husband reportedly resides. At the time of her departure, no case has been filed in court against Ramona. The Philippines does not have an extradition treaty with Turkey. An extradition treaty paves the way for the surrender or transfer of a suspected or convicted criminal from one country to another requesting country seeking to put the person on trial or behind bars.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the NBI to work with the INTERPOL to track down Ramona and look into the possibility of having her placed on the Red Notice list. But Gatdula was quoted by Dailisan as saying that the INTERPOL can only gather information regarding Ramona's whereabouts only if there is an official request from the Philippines. He likewise said that a "top level" Philippine official should coordinate with the Turkish government regarding Ramona's capture should a case be finally be filed against her. Autopsy report Ram was killed in his Parañaque City home last Oct. 28. His girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, was likewise attacked but survived the incident. Dailisan said the NBI's autopsy report indicated that Ram died of a stab wound that pierced his heart. He said the NBI will be providing the report to the Revilla family. The police have filed a complaint of murder and frustrated murder against Ramona and her brother Ramon Joseph "RJ" Bautista, 18, for their alleged involvement in the crime. RJ is in police custody. Also charged along with the siblings were Michael Altea and Roy Francis Tolisora, who were earlier arrested by police. Three other suspects, identified as Norwin de la Cruz and two others with the aliases Bryan and Glaiza, are still at-large. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News