Court denies request for Ruby Rose's children to visit wake

MANILA, Philippines - The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday denied a motion filed by the family of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, a victim of a Mafia-style execution, to allow her children to visit the wake and attend the burial of their mother.

“The children are just not willing to visit the wake of the mother,” Judge Gloria Aglugub of Las Piñas RTC-Branch 254 said in a marathon hearing.

Lawyer Victor Lladoc said Aglugub had a telephone conversation with Ruby Rose’s eldest child, but the girl is reportedly not interested in going to the wake and attending the burial.

Ruby Rose’s mother, Asuncion Barrameda, expressed disappointment over the court’s decision. “We respect the judge’s decision but still we are disappointed,” she said, adding that they will still have to discuss future plans and actions with their lawyer.

Even with the court’s denial of the family’s motion, Ruby Rose’s burial will push through today as scheduled.

The Barramedas, particularly the victim’s parents, Roberto and Asuncion, filed before the court an urgent motion to allow the children to visit the wake of Ruby Rose, sister of former actress Rochelle Barrameda.

“Citing humanitarian reasons as well as holding on to the public pronouncement made by the Jimenez’s camp that they will allow Ruby Rose’s daughters, aged 9 and 2, to visit their mother’s wake, an urgent motion was filed so that the court can intervene,” Lladoc said.

In a news briefing held yesterday morning at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, Rochelle appealed to Aglugub to grant their petition.

“We are not asking for the custody of the children. What we want is just for them to be at the wake and burial of my sister,” Rochelle said.

The former beauty queen also asked the government to step in and help them. She said they already sent President Arroyo a letter asking for help.

The Barramedas also sought the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in making possible the visit of the children before their mother is finally buried.

Rochelle however, warned that Ruby Rose’s husband, Manuel Jimenez III, and father-in-law, Manuel Jimenez II, are not welcome at the wake as she expressed belief that the two are involved in her sister’s killing.

Ruby Rose and her husband had been separated since December 2006. In January 2007, she filed a temporary protection order and writ of habeas corpus before the Las Piñas RTC to work out the custody of their two children.

In earlier interviews, Jimenez II said he and his brother have nothing to do with Ruby Rose’s death and that the custody battle concerning the children has not yet been settled.