Guarded by a dozen armed men from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), RJ spent several hours with his family at Angelus Memorial Park in Imus, Cavite.
Despite the temporary reprieve, he was constantly reminded of his status as he was kept in handcuffs the whole time. He was also dressed in yellow shirt with the word “Detainee” printed in front.
Two BJMP vehicles brought RJ to the cemetery where his family had set up a tent near Ramgen Bautista’s grave to commemorate his first death anniversary.
Upon his arrival, RJ solemnly stood in front of his brother’s grave before he bent down and touched the marker. He then hugged his mother, Genelyn Magsaysay, and his other siblings.
Last week, Judge Fortunito Madrona of the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274 granted RJ a prison furlough from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Magsaysay saw her son’s six-hour leave from prison as a “very good” sign. “We are happy because we know wherever Ramgen is, he is happy to see that RJ was given an afternoon to visit his grave and to be with us even briefly,” she told reporters.
Asked if she would allow Janelle Manahan, Ramgen’s girlfriend, to visit his grave, she said, “What does she want? A red carpet welcome after destroying my family?”
Manahan, who was wounded when Ramgen was shot and killed inside the Bautistas’ house on Oct. 28 last year, had accused his siblings of being behind his murder.