Suspect turned witness visits Ruby Rose wake to ask for forgiveness

MANILA, Philippines - The two daughters of Mafia-style execution victim, Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez may have failed to pay her their last respect but the suspect turned witness in her case sneaked into her wake in Parañaque City to ask for her forgiveness hours before her burial last Wednesday.

Accompanied by eight police teams as escorts, Manuel Montero, 49, one of the accused in the grisly crime, turned up at the room at the Manila Memorial Park where the remains of Ruby Rose lay in state at 4:30 a.m. 

“Montero prayed and asked Ruby Rose for forgiveness before leaving after 30 minutes,” said Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

Rosales said he was surprised when Montero asked permission from him to pay Ruby Rose a last visit “to ask for her forgiveness so his guilt would be lessened.”

Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit said the Barrameda family was already asleep when they arrived.

“There were only a handful of mourners inside the room where Ruby Rose’ remains lay when we arrived. I mixed Montero with at least nine of my policemen and together they took a last glimpse of the victim,” said Francisco, noting that not one of the mourners managed to identify Montero.

Francisco said Montero have met former actress Rochelle Barrameda and the victim’s parents Robert and Asuncion a number of times at the height of their effort to locate Ruby Rose’s body.

“The atmosphere was solemn during the meetings and it was only the mother who kept asking Montero questions while the father often broke into tears,” said Francisco, adding that he could not tell whether the Barramedas have forgiven Montero for his misdeed.