Ramgen's girlfriend leaves hospital

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Janelle Manahan vowed to seek justice for her slain boyfriend, actor Ram Revilla (real name Ramgen Jose Bautista), as she was discharged from the hospital yesterday, more than a month after they were attacked in Revilla’s Parañaque City home.

“Simula pa lamang ito ng aking paglalakbay patungo sa katotohanan at hustisya sa pagkamatay ni Ramgen (This is just the start of my journey toward finding the truth and justice for Ramgen’s death),” she said in a handwritten letter.

Manahan said she believes her being with Revilla at the time of the murder was more than a mere coincidence, even as she vowed justice for the 23-year-old actor.

“Alam ko at naniniwala ako na ang lahat ng nangyari sa buhay natin ay may dahilan. Kung bakit ako naroon ng mga oras na iyan at nabuhay (I know and I believe that everything happens for a reason. Why I was there at the time and lived),” read Manahan’s letter.

“Nangako ako sa kanya na hindi (ako) titigil hanggat hindi kakamit ang hustisyang nararapat para sa kanya (I promised him I will not stop until he gets justice),” she added.

Manahan, who was shot in the face by Revilla’s attacker, was discharged from the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City yesterday afternoon. According to one of her lawyers, Argee Guevarra, the actress is “doing remarkably well.”

“The healing process is fast. Actually, she’s probably recovered 60 to 70 percent of muscular function in her right cheek,” Guevarra told The STAR over the phone.

Manahan underwent several surgeries after sustaining four facial fractures. In the letter, she thanked God for her second life, and expressed gratitude to her supporters for their prayers.

Witness protection

In a separate phone interview, lawyer Restituto Mendoza said the public should wait for Manahan’s “revelations on Friday. Janelle’s testimony will contradict the statement of Ramona (Bautista).”

Mendoza said Manahan is expected to face investigating prosecutor Leah Roma in Parañaque City on Friday afternoon to submit her counter-reply to Ramona’s affidavit.

Manahan’s camp will also ask Roma on Thursday for an endorsement so the actress can apply to get into the Department of Justice (DOJ) witness protection program.

According to Mendoza, who handles Manahan’s bid for witness protection, the actress has been receiving threats on micro-blogging site Twitter. “People are sending her bad things,” Mendoza said.

Ramona, 22, is the younger sister of Revilla, who was among the seven charged with murder and frustrated murder for the attack.

Ramona fled to Turkey on Nov. 4 after recanting her initial statement that her brother’s “two attackers” kidnapped her after Revilla and Manahan were shot.

In her counter-affidavit submitted to Roma last week, Ramona said she tried to help Manahan and Revilla, but decided to leave them out of fear of the attackers.

Ramona also said she decided to fabricate the abduction story because she was so “ashamed” that she abandoned the victims.

The Bautista siblings’ mother, Genelyn Magsaysay, submitted the counter-affidavit, which was certified by the Philippine embassy in Ankara, Turkey on Nov. 24.

According to Mendoza, their team will ask the DOJ to revoke Ramona’s passport and force her to come home and face the preliminary investigation.