Lawyers of Bautista’s GF seek cancellation of Mara’s passport

Lawyers of Janelle Manahan, the girlfriend of slain actor Ramgen Bautista, have asked the Parañaque Regional Trial Court (RTC) to put one of the suspects, Bautista’s sister Ma. Ramona, or Mara, on the immigration watchlist and order the cancellation of her passport as well.

Meanwhile, three other suspects in the murder and attempted murder case pleaded not guilty during their arraignment Monday before Judge Fortunito Madrona of the Parañaque RTC, Branch 274.

According to Manahan’s lawyer, Resty Mendoza, he was advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs to seek a court order for the cancelation of Mara’s passport.

The younger sister of Bautista left the country in November after several of the accused linked her to her brother’s death and the attack on Manahan.

Based on immigration records, Mara arrived in Turkey where her husband lives. However, she left the country after a few hours and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Mendoza explained that they were taking this action to force Mara to come home and face the charges against her.

“Should her Philippine passport get canceled, it will limit her movements for sure,” he said in an interview. “As far as our country is concerned, she will be an undocumented alien and if she continues to use her Philippine passport when it gets revoked, she’ll be held at any airport.”

For his part, the judge said he would immediately resolve the matter once he receives the comments of Mara’s lawyer on the prosecution’s request.

Of the seven accused, only Mara—believed to have masterminded the killing along with her other brother Ramon Joseph, or RJ—remains at large.

Clad in yellow detainee shirts, Norwin de la Cruz, Glaiza Visda and Ryan Pastera pleaded not guilty to the charges against them at their arraignment.

The three are being held at the Parañaque City jail where RJ and two other accused, Michael Nartea and Roy Francis Tolisora, are also detained.

In a related development, Manahan’s other lawyer, Argee Guevarra, shrugged off offers from some of the accused to turn state witness as he commented that it was too early to make a deal at this time.

Earlier, Visda and De la Cruz who are said to have acted as the link between RJ and Mara and the alleged hired killers, made the offer through their lawyers.

Guevarra, however, challenged them to “disclose everything they know” about the crime.

“At this point, they are just telling about 50 to 60 percent of the story. What we want is the whole picture,” he said.