MANILA — The Paranaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has given the accused in the Oct. 28, 2011 murder of actor Ramgen Revilla five days within which to file their comments on the petition of the prosecution seeking the issuance of hold departure orders (HDO) against them.
This as Paranaque RTC Branch 174 Judge Fortunito Madrona thumbed down the request of prosecution’s lawyers Resty Mendoza and Gilbert Espinosa for the court to issue the HDO during last Friday’s hearing.
The two have argued for the immediate issuance of the HDO to prevent the suspects from leaving the country if they can post bail for the charges citing as example Ramgen’s sister, Ma. Ramona Belen “Mara” Bautista, who fled the country a day after recanting her earlier statement that she was abducted by her brother’s assailants when they fled the crime scene.
Police said the abduction story was part of an elaborate hoax designed to cover her role in the crime.
Mendoza also argued that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot act on their request for the cancellation of Ramona’s passport and that of the other accused since the rules called for the court to issue first an HDO.
Mendoza and Espinosa are serving as counsels of Ramgen’s girlfriend Janelle Manahan, who survived the attack and is now a prosecution witness.
In a related development, another of Manahan’s lawyer, Argee Guevarra accused Ramona’s counsel, Jeffrey Gepte, of compromising the former’s security when he visited her at her safehouse to deliver an envelope, which contained documents related to the petition for review of the accused on the charges filed against her.
Gepte is also serving as the counsel of another accused, Ramon Joseph “RJ” Bautista who is currently detained at the Paranaque City Jail.
Aside from Ramona and Joseph, also facing charges are another of their sibling, Ma. Ragelyn “Gail” Bautista and her husband Hero Furuyama.
Other accused are Michael Nartea and Roy Francis Tolisora, the alleged gunmen, Ryan Pastera and couple Glaiza Visda and Norween dela Cruz. (PNA)
RMA/CLTC
