PNP: Female suspect in Ram Revilla slay case sends feelers

A female suspect — presumably Glaiza Vista, the so-called missing piece in the puzzle that is the Ramgen “Ram" Revilla murder case — has supposedly expressed her intention to surrender to authorities. This was bared by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome during the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) forum late Wednesday night at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City. “As of now we cannot really say the case is closed or solved because there is still another suspect, a woman, who sent feelers for her to surrender," Bartolome said. Aside from Revilla’s brother, Ramona Bautista, who has fled the country days after Revilla was killed on Oct. 28, Vista was the only female in the police’s list of suspects. She and her boyfriend, Norwin dela Cruz, allegedly served as middlemen between the masterminds of the crime and the actual perpetrators. Like Vista, Dela Cruz is still at large. Also named suspect in the case is Revilla’s 18-year-old brother, Ramon Joseph “RJ" Bautista, who is now in police custody. Revilla, 23; Ramona, 22; and RJ are half-siblings of Sen. Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr. Their father is former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. Bartolome refused to give more information about the possible surrender of the female suspect, but insinuated that her testimony will be of big help to the police investigating the case. Revilla was stabbed and shot on the night of Oct. 28 inside their Parañaque City home. His girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, survived the attack and is currently recuperating at a hospital. Aside from RJ, two more suspects — Michael Jay Nartea and Roy Francis Tolisora — have been arrested. During the preliminary investigation on Wednesday, the two submitted their separate affidavits to the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office where they pinned RJ and Ramona to the crime. The siblings are reportedly squabbling over money. Genelyn Magsaysay, their mother, has denied that her children would resort to violence to settle their differences, saying she raised them as God-fearing people. Bartolome said he is confident with the way the Parañaque City Police are handling the case. “We support them," he said. He said he would not consider the Ram Revilla murder case as closed yet, noting that they have yet to get more information especially from those who are still at large. “We are considering to get all of these before we can finally say that this case is closed," the PNP chief said. — KBK, GMA News