MANILA, Philippines—Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said on Tuesday his entire family was shocked over the finding by police investigators that another brother had masterminded the murder of his half-brother, 23-year-old Ramgen Jose Bautista (a.k.a Ram Revilla), in Parañaque City, last Friday.
But the senator did not immediately buy the police angle that 18-year-old Ramon Joseph Bautista, younger brother of Ramgen, was involved in the killing.
“We call on the Task Force Ramgen to make sure that the result of the investigation (would) not lead to irreparable damage to the innocent, especially to their family members,” he said in a statement.
“We do not believe that he had anything to do with it until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt,” he said in Filipino.
Revilla asked investigators to examine the “credibility” of the other suspects who had tagged Ramon Joseph. “The statements should be validated, not taken on face value alone,” he said.
Police filed murder charges on Tuesday against seven suspects, including Ramon Joseph and sister Ramona Bautista.
“Our family is as shocked as everyone,” the senator said. “One is yet to be buried while another one is already being implicated. This is a tragic death made even more tragic by the fact that a family member is being implicated.”
In the end, Revilla said his family would ensure that the real perpetrators would be brought to justice.
“Whoever did this, whoever he is, would be answerable to the law,” he said.