Ramona's lawyers send papers to Janelle's safehouse

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Janelle Manahan panicked after receiving court documents sent to her “safehouse” through registered mail by the lawyer of murder suspect Ramona Bautista on Wednesday, her lawyer said yesterday.

“She thought it was a bomb. She became paranoid,” said Argee Guevarra, referring to the package from lawyer Jeffrey Gepte.

Guevarra said they will ask the court today to direct Gepte and the Bautista clan’s lawyers to send all of the necessary court documents to their office in Ortigas.

Guevarra said for them, Gepte’s action was a form of “harassment intended to scare Janelle.”

“What are they trying to say, that they know where Janelle lives? They know for a fact that all court documents should be sent to our office,” Guevarra added.

In a separate interview, Gepte said it was “never his intention” to scare Manahan. He said based on the rules, a defendant is directed to furnish a complainant a copy of their pleadings or answer to the pleadings.

Gepte admitted it was an “oversight” on his part to send Ramona’s petition for review directly to Janelle’s safehouse, and is willing to apologize.

Janelle is the lone witness to the murder of her boyfriend, actor Ram Revilla (real name Ramgen Bautista), on Oct. 28. 

She was wounded in the attack and filed frustrated murder charges against Ramona and six other accused. The seven, including Revilla’s brother Ramon Joseph, are also charged with murder for his death.