The missing sister of actress Rochelle Barrameda is not a battered wife, the lawyer of her estranged husband claimed.
Taking offense on published reports that 26-year-old Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez has been a victim of domestic violence, lawyer Mario Aguinaldo described the allegations hurled by Barrameda against her brother-in-law Manuel Jimenez III, as false.
"We would like to inform you that Ruby Rose Jimenez was never a battered wife. What had happened to the spouses Jimenez was an ordinary misunderstanding between husband and wife, which unfortunately ended up to the unnecessary and unwarranted simultaneous filing of cases in court," Aguinaldo said.
Aguinaldo claimed that Ruby Rose’s court testimony on the witness stand prior to her disappearance contradicted allegations that she is a battered wife.
Citing the confidentiality clause of Republic Act No. 9262 otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, Aguinaldo said he could not discuss the merits of these two cases.
"Suffice it to say that the case filed by Ruby Rose Jimenez under this act has been dismissed by the court before she "disappeared," as earlier reported," Aguinaldo said.
He added that the dismissal of the case should not put to rest any insinuations that the alleged disappearance "has something to do with her filing a complaint against her husband for allegedly violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004."
He also said that allegations made by Rochelle Barrameda had caused dishonor, discredit and public contempt upon their client and his family. Aguinaldo asked for an equal space for his client to air his side.
Ruby Rose, living with her own family following her breakup with her husband, simply disappeared without a trace after going to the bank in Muntinlupa City last month.
Her disappearance prompted her family to seek assistance from the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
As of yesterday, both law enforcement agencies are still clueless about the case.
To hasten the search, the Barrameda family has put up a P500,000 cash reward to any informant who could lead authorities to Ruby Rose’s whereabouts. – With Shiela Francisco and Denise Limson