Revilla girlfriend seeks DOJ witness protection

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Janelle Manahan – who survived an Oct. 28 attack in which her boyfriend, actor Ram Revilla (real name Ramgen Bautista) was killed – went to the Department of Justice yesterday to request that she be placed under the DOJ’s witness protection program (WPP).

Manahan sought protection after she implicated another sister of Revilla in his killing. Her lawyer, Argee Guevarra, said there may be attempts on her life.

Manahan, accompanied by her lawyers, went to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to submit her application. The actress said she is recovering well after she was shot in the face by a man in a Halloween mask who barged into her boyfriend’s BF Homes, Parañaque City home.

Guevarra said his client also asked De Lima to immediately issue a watch list order (WLO) against Ramgen’s sister, Gail Bautista-Furuyama, and her husband, Hiro Furuyama. He said Manahan fears that the Furuyamas might try to leave the country in order to avoid prosecution.

He said Manahan had included them in the murder and frustrated murder case earlier filed against Ramgen’s siblings, Ma. Ramona and Ramon Joseph.

De Lima said Manahan must first be evaluated by officials of the WPP before she can approve the request.