Accused in Barrameda slay asks CA Justice to inhibit from case

RUBY Rose Barrameda INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – An accused in the murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda has asked a Court of Appeals Associate Justice to inhibit himself from handling the petition in connection with the discharge as accused of witness Manuel Montero.

In a 6-page motion, fishing magnate and Barrameda’s father in law Manuel Jimenez Jr. urged Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. to inhibit from the case.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) moved to discharge Montero as state witness against the accused. However, in a May 22, 2012 ruling, the appeals court 10^th division denied the state’s motion. Jimenez said Reyes concurred with the decision.

But upon filing of the motion for reconsideration, Jimenez said Reyes changed his position and dissented on Montero’s discharge.

Jimenez said, Reyes’ position changed at the time when he was nominated for a Supreme Court position and when President Benigno Aquino III aired his stand in favor of the Barramedas.

“Considering the position of the President in the instant case and the nomination of the Hon. Justice Reyes, Jr., to the Supreme Court…petitioner cannot help, with all due respect, but roll his eyes over the reflections and the sudden change of position of the Hon. Justice Reyes Jr.,” Jimenez said pointing that his change of position led to the creation of a special division of five justices to hear the case.

Barrameda’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, petitioner Manuel Jimenez Jr., 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.

Montero, however, already retracted from his testimony. The Malabon court has yet to act on Montero’s retraction.