The alleged mastermind in the killing of Ram Revilla has been named – his own brother, Ramon Joseph Bautista. Meanwhile, Charice Pempengco has aired her grief regarding the recent killing of her father, Ricky Pempengco.
Despite the generally “peaceful” observance of the Undas season, Metro Manila was abuzz with the killings of these two individuals whose deaths became the talk of the town due to their connections to showbiz.
Actor Ram Revilla, 22, whose real name is Ramgen Magsaysay Bautista, is the son of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. He was pronounced dead on arrival on October 29 at the Parañaque General Hospital after suffering multiple stab and gunshot wounds when a group of armed men broke into his home on President Avenue, Phase 6A, BF Homes, Friday.
Ram was with his girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, who suffered a gunshot wound to the jaw and had medical attention at the Intensive Care Unit of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City. She is now out of danger.
Ram’s younger sister, Ma. Ramona Belen Bautista, 22, initially said that she was witness to the men barging in and shooting her brother before she was forcibly dragged to a van outside the house and abandoned at Starmall on Zapote-Alabang Road, Pamplona, Las Piñas City. Robbery was ruled out because nothing was taken from the house. Parañaque Police chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran reported that strangely, the househelp and aide did not hear any gun shots inside the house. Police recovered a dagger pouch, a .45 caliber pistol with a serial number registered to the Revillas. Security-wise, Beltran was disturbed to note that the subdivision guards could have been guilty of lapses because the security outpost was located near the victim’s residence.
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has announced a half a million bounty to anyone who could lead them to the identities of the killers. However, it seems that the manhunt may be over as recent reports have named Ramon Joseph Bautista, the victim’s younger brother, as the alleged mastermind in his killing. Michael Cruz Altia, Roy Francis Tolisora, the victim’s younger sister Maria Ramona Belen, Norwin de la Cruz, and two others alias Ryan and Gliza respectively, have also been identified as suspects. Only Altia and Tolisora have been taken into police custody while the others remain at large. Murder and frustrated murder charges will be filed against the suspects. The motive for the killing is believed to be personal, but nothing more has been elaborated.
Meanwhile, singer Charice Pempengco has canceled an appearance in Singapore and aired her grief on Twitter following the death of her estranged father, Ricky. Charice’s father was killed in Barangay Laram, San Pedro, Laguna near midnight on Monday, October 31. Senior Superintendent Kirby Kraft, San Pedro police chief, said Pempengco, 40, died on the spot after sustaining puncture wounds in the chest and back after Angel Capili Sr., a long-time resident in the village attacked him with an ice pick. Capili was reported to have been slighted because Pempengco had allegedly ignored him during his visit to the town after having been away for five years.
These two incidents show more contrast than similarities. Both are crimes against person, murder. Not even robbery. Both used weapons aside from a pistol, presumably licensed, since police reports indicate that the serial number is registered to the Revillas. The Revilla incident happened inside the privacy of their own house and committed by family members. Here, the police is caught irresponsibly blaming the subdivision security guards for lapses. What lapses? For not intruding into the gated house? But the San Pedro police was responsibly not quick to blame the barangay tanods for failure to prevent stabbing and to respond to the badly injured Ricky Pempengco who died in public view on a public road. Both murders were attributed to personal grudges and gained media attention because the victims were related to celebrities. What about those victims who are nobody?
