No paraffin test for Revilla slay suspects

MANILA, Philippines - None of the three suspects arrested for the Oct. 28 murder of actor Ram Revilla (Ramgen Bautista in real life) were examined for gunshot residue, the Parañaque City police said yesterday.

“They did not undergo a paraffin test because their arrests came few days after the shooting,” city police chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran said.

Revilla’s younger brother and principal suspect, Ramon Joseph Bautista, was arrested in Cavite on Oct. 31. Alleged gunmen Roy Francis Tolisora and Michael Nartea were nabbed near their houses in Barangay San Dionisio on Oct. 30.

“One of them could be the gunman,” said Chief Inspector Enrique Sy, head of Task Force Ramgen, in a separate interview.

Sy echoed Beltran’s opinion on the paraffin test and noted that the lawyers of the accused also “declined” to subject their clients to such a test.

Beltran explained that the test “has to be voluntary” because it can be used as evidence.

The lack of a paraffin test, however, will not affect the investigation, said both police officials. “It’s not conclusive, that’s why the court does not base its decision on the test. There are cases that the gunman tests negative,” Beltran said.