Ramgen slay 'middlemen' surrender

MANILA, Philippines - A couple who allegedly hired the killers of actor Ram Revilla (real name Ramgen Jose Bautista) surrendered to the police before dawn yesterday.

Glaiza Vista and her boyfriend, Norwin de la Cruz, said they surfaced after receiving death threats.

“They are in a safe place, while we work out our next step with the prosecutor,” said Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran, chief of Parañaque City police.

Vista and De la Cruz turned themselves in at about 4 a.m. to broadcasting station ABS-CBN, which helped facilitate their surrender to the police.

According to ABS-CBN, Vista and De la Cruz denied involvement in the crime but expressed willingness to become state witnesses. Beltran told The STAR that such a request is something only the court can decide.

Chief Inspector Fergen Torred, head of the local police intelligence unit, said the two will be secured in a safehouse under their custody until the court orders their transfer. “This is to give them protection and allay their fears,” Torred said in Filipino.

Based on police investigation, Vista reportedly offered at least four people to kill Revilla for P200,000 to P250,000.

Two (Ruel Puzon and Loyd Comeda) of the supposed gunmen are the police’s witnesses, while the other two (Roy Francis Tolisora and Michael Nartea) are co-accused in the crime.

Tolisora and Puzon told police that the group behind the murder – backed by two of Ramgen’s younger siblings, Ramona Bautista and Ramon Joseph Bautista – wanted Ramgen killed because he hurt his siblings and was a rebellious son.

With the surrender of Vista and De la Cruz, only “Bryan” remains at large out of the seven charged with Ramgen’s murder. Bryan, according to the police, is a friend of Joseph who contacted Vista and De la Cruz.

Reward turned over to Robredo

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. turned over yesterday the P500,000 reward for informants on the murder of his half-brother and the shooting of the latter’s girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“I’m grateful and thankful to Sen. Bong Revilla for his trust and confidence in our office to handle the reward money. I assure him that the amount would be disposed and released to the right person entitled to it,” Robredo said.

Last Thursday, Jeffrey-John Zarate, Revilla’s spokesman on the issue, wrote to Robredo that the senator has committed P500,000 from his personal account as a reward for informants. Zarate said Revilla believes Robredo will exercise sound and lawful discretion on the matter in accordance with “guidelines established by law or by your office.”

The Parañaque police office has filed charges against seven persons for Ramgen’s killing, including siblings Ramon Joseph, who is currently detained at the Parañaque City Jail; and Ramona, who had flown to Turkey reportedly to evade prosecution.