Suspect in Ruby Rose Barrameda slay arrested

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A suspect in the murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez was arrested Friday in the town of Mariveles in Bataan, police said.

Former police officer Lennard Descalso alias “Spyke,” one of those charged with the murder of Barrameda-Jimenez, was caught near his home in Mountain View Village in Mariveles town, Bataan before dawn Friday, Bataan police director Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao told INQUIRER.net.

“Descalso was caught at around 12:22 a.m. near his home. He must not have expected that police would be able to find him,” said Gunnacao, adding that they have been keeping a close watch on the suspect since September 2009 when a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Malabon Regional Trial Court Branch 170.

“He actually went abroad–to Saudi–after the warrant was issued but he came back sometime during the last quarter of 2010 probably because he could not bear to be away from his family,” the police director added. He said that Descalso had tried to evade police surveillance by randomly moving from Bataan, Cavite and Batangas.

Gunnacao said that Descalso will also be presented to the Malabon Regional Trial Court.

Barrameda-Jimenez disappeared on March 14, 2007 amidst a custody battle with her husband, Manuel Jimenez III, over their two children. Her body was found stuffed inside a drum sealed with concrete in the waters off the Navotas City, two years later. With reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon