Police tighten watch over Ram Revilla’s girlfriend

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities said on Friday that security was tightened for Janelle Manahan, girlfriend of Ramgen Jose Bautista, the slain actor and son of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.

The heightened watch was prompted by Manahan’s statement to police in which she tagged Ramgen’s younger sister Ramona to the crime, said Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran, Paranaque City police chief.

Beltran said that while they have provided Manahan enough security “from day one”, they would continue to do so as the case progressed.

Chief Inspector Enrique Sy said on Thursday that Manahan’s statement detailed how Ramona did not return after she was asked to call for an ambulance on the night that several suspects stabbed and shot Ramgen in his home in BF Homes in Paranaque. Manahan was shot as well but survived.

Ramona, who was in the house when the crime was committed, told police that she was abducted by the suspects and left her in Las Pinas.

Sy said that Ramgen’s personal assistant as well as security guards from the subdivision told police that they saw Ramona leave her brother’s home.

Beltran however said that no information about the possible rivalry among the Bautista siblings were included in Manahan’s statement to police.

Ramon Joseph, younger brother of Ramgen and Ramona, and two other suspects, Michael Cruz Altia and Roy Francis Tolisora, were taken into custody by police this week.

Another witness claimed that Ramon Joseph was the mastermind in the killing of Ramgen, who went by the screen name Ram Revilla.

Beltran said the manhunt on Ramona and three others were suspended pending the release of arrest warrants from the Paranaque Prosecutors’ Office.