MANILA, Philippines - One of the primary suspects in the 2007 murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, her own father-in-law, surrendered to police in Angono town, Rizal yesterday afternoon.
Angono police chief Superintendent Rommel Estolano told The STAR that lawyer Manuel Jimenez Jr., accompanied by his wife, Merced, gave himself up at around 2:15 p.m.
Estolano said Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 170 Judge Hector Almeda issued a warrant of arrest against Jimenez yesterday for murder and recommended no bail be granted the suspect.
He said Jimenez learned from friends that an arrest warrant had been issued against him, prompting his decision to surrender.
Jimenez was brought to the Angono Medic Hospital after complaining of chest pains but was later declared out of danger, Estolano said.
He told The STAR Jimenez will be in the Angono police’s custody and will be transferred to the Parañaque police.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed murder charges last Aug. 24 before a Navotas RTC against Jimenez; his younger brother, Lope, who owns the Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing and Trading Co; Manuel Montero, who confessed to participating in the killing and testified for the Barrameda family; and Eric Fernandez, Spyke Discalzo and Roberto Ponce.
The DOJ investigating panel cleared Ruby Rose’s estranged husband, Manuel Jimenez III; and Rudy de la Cruz.
The Barramedas recently asked the DOJ to reconsider Jimenez III’s acquittal.
Ruby Rose was on her way to visit her two daughters at her husband’s house in Las Piñas when she disappeared last March 14, 2007.
A body, which police and Montero claim was that of Ruby Rose was fished out of the seawaters off Navotas on June 11.
Meanwhile, two police teams from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) served the arrest warrant on Lope Jimenez in his office in Navotas and his residence in Parañaque City but failed to find him. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran