Gov’t witness in Ruby Rose Barrameda murder case recants testimony

Ruby Rose Barrameda. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The government’s witness to the death of Ruby Rose Barrameda, sister of actress and former beauty queen Rochelle Barrameda, has recanted his testimony.

Manuel Montero’s recantation was contained on the notice of withdrawal of consent and testimony dated February 25 as confirmed by the Malabon Regional Trial Court Branch 170.

Ruby Rose’s body was recovered on June 10, 2009 in the waters off Navotas City inside a steel drum. She went missing in March 2007.

The police then filed charges against her husband Manuel Jimenez III, her father-in-law Manuel Jimenez Jr., his brother Lope Jimenez and henchmen Eric Fernandez, Robert Ponce and Lennard “Spyke” Descalso based on Montero’s testimony. Her husband was eventually cleared of any involvement in the killing.

Meanwhile, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for Lope Jimenez said those who accused his client should apologize “for destroying his reputation and his life.

“We feel that all those who have heaped accusations against him in a most dastardly and malevolent manner must now apologize to him for destroying his reputation and his life. Mr. Lope Jimenez will now have to pick up the pieces of his life, as it were, and much of the stigma may never disappear,” Topacio said.

Topacio said the recantation of Montero is a vindication of all the accused.

“The proper and decent thing for the Justice Department to do is to move for the dismissal of the case against our client, consistent with its mandate to do justice,” he added.

The Department of Justice has yet to issue a response on the Montero’s recantation.