MANILA, Philippines - The husband of slain Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez met yesterday with Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to belie reports that he is in hiding after the Department of Justice included him as among those charged in her murder in 2007.
Verzosa said Manuel Jimenez III, assisted by his lawyer Mario Agustin, showed up yesterday morning at his office at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“He showed up at the national headquarters with his lawyer to indicate that according to them, he is not in hiding and that they are willing to submit to any judicial proceedings as mandated by judicial authorities,” Verzosa told The STAR. The PNP chief said as early as last week, he received words from an emissary of Jimenez III that the latter will meet with him as a sign of good gesture.
Jimenez III gave Verzosa the assurance that he will not leave the country pending the resolution of the murder case of his wife Ruby Rose, and once a warrant of arrest is issued against him, he will voluntarily surrender himself to the authorities.
Last year, Ruby Rose’s body was fished out of Navotas waters inside a cement-sealed steel container through the help of witness Manuel Montero, a self-confessed participant to the crime. The victim was a sister of beauty titlist Rochelle Barrameda.
Montero confessed he was among those who were paid P50,000 each to kill Ruby Rose on March 12, 2007 on alleged order from Ruby Rose’s father-in-law, Manuel Jimenez Jr., and his younger brother Lope, owner of Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing and Trading Co., the property where the steel drum containing Ruby Rose’s body was found.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima reviewed the murder case and included Jimenez III, his father Manuel Jr. and uncle Lope Jimenez as among those charged in the case pending at the Malabon City Regional Trial Court Branch 70.