IT manager's wife declines homicide police invitation

CEBU, Philippines – The investigating police officers of the Homicide Section have asked the wife of the slain information technology manager to appear before their office for a few questions and clarifications.

However, SPO1 Jay Yballe said that the wife of Philip Ramos (name being withheld), who is accused as the mastermind in the killing, has denied the police's invitation, saying she is still in mourning and has to attend to the wake of her husband.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Yballe said that prior to their invitation, Ramos' wife had already an informal talk with SPO4 Dennis Moga to whom she denied the accusations that she was behind the murder of her husband.

Ramos, 36, a production manager of Innodata Knowledge Services, Inc. based in Mandaue City was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men last Tuesday night in barangay Pardo, Cebu City while he and his live-in partner, were outside the house of a friend.

Despite Ramos' wife's denial, Yballe said that they will officially invite her one of these days to get her side/statement on the killing.

Yballe said that they still cannot tag her as the suspect because they still have to hear her side on the incident.

"We are still on the process of elimination," said Yballe, adding that the family of Ramos is determined to file charges against the gunman and the person behind his killing when the police are done in their investigation.

 Ramos' wife went to the Homicide Section last Tuesday to ask the police to assist her in having the body of her husband transferred to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Mandaue City for the reason that she is the legal wife.

Yballe however said that the transfer of the victims' body depends only on the family of the victim and that they are not in the proper position to decide where to place his cadaver.

Victoria Ramos, 70, mother of the victim, in an exclusive interview told The FREEMAN that his sons' wife went to their house in Pardo to talk about the place where her husband should be laid for the wake.

Victoria added that they have agreed to transfer her sons' dead body to Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes this Saturday morning.

"Dili unta mi musugot pero naa man ta'y kasingkasing. Tagaan pud namo siya og oras isip usa ka asawa sa akong anak," said the victims' mother.

She added that the burial of her son will be this August 3 at the Pardo Cemetery.

According to Yballe, Agnes Bitco, live-in partner and co-worker of the victim, is also considered as a witness.

In an interview Bitco said that she and the victim's family prayed for the fast resolution of the killing and that justice will be given to Philip.

On the other hand, Maharlika, elder sister of the victim, said that there were people who actually saw the killing but they are afraid to show-up because of security reasons.

Yballe said that they are hoping that they could already come up with the suspects' cartographic sketch within this week.

"Hopefully, karong semanaha makahatag na unta ta og cartographic sketch sa assailants. Pero dili pa gyud ta makahatag og exact date kung kanus-a gyud kay maghuwat paman jud ta sa side sa asawa sa biktima, ug wala pa gyud lagi ta'y eye witness," he added. (THE FREEMAN)