Ramon Joseph Bautista, one of the main suspects in the murder of his brother actor Ramgen Bautista, has entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment on murder and frustrated murder charges before the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Tuesday morning (January 17).
Suspects Michael Nartea and Roy Francis Tolisora also entered not guilty pleas before the court clerk informed them of the charges against them. The three are detained at the city jail.
Judge Fortunito Madrona of the Parañaque RTC Branch 274 has ordered the arrest of four other accused–Bautista’s younger sister Ma. Ramona or Mara, Glaiza Visda, Norwin dela Cruz and Ryan Pastera.
Police earlier said Ma. Ramona and Ramon Joseph plotted the murder of their brother with the help of Pastera, Dela Cruz and Visda who were tasked to look for hired killers, including Nartea and Tolisora. The court set bail for the four accused at P200,000 each in connection with the frustrated murder charge. No bail was set for the charge of murder.
Ma. Ramona left the country for Turkey right after the death of her brother. Through his lawyer, she asked the court to determine whether there was probable cause in the filing of the charges against her. Ramon Joseph, on the other hand, had requested that he be allowed to post bail.
Pre-trial proceedings are set on March 1.
