Janelle, Ramgen brod face off in court

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Janelle Manahan and murder suspect Ramon Joseph Bautista exchanged bitter words yesterday as they met for the first time since actor Ram Revilla (Ramgen Bautista in real life) was killed last October.

“It feels weird that he cannot even look at me. Probably because he knows (he has done something),” said Manahan, who, upon arriving at the courtroom at 2 p.m. yesterday, had been staring at Ramon Joseph.

Ramon Joseph, 18, is a younger brother of Revilla. He, elder sister Ramona, and five others were charged for the crime. They are also facing frustrated murder charges by Manahan, who was with Revilla when an attacker barged into his room and shot him. Manahan was shot in face while Revilla was stabbed and shot to death.

Ramon Joseph, for his part, accused Manahan of making a show out of the trial. “I just looked at her before she went out,” said Ramon Joseph, shaking his head. “I really wish her luck in her career.”

Ramon Joseph added that he was angry at Manahan “for accusing him of a crime he did not do.”

Ramon Joseph and Ramona were the last persons seen by the village security guard to leave the Bautista house in BF Homes after the crime. The two walked away casually, according to police investigators.

It was Manahan’s first time to attend a court hearing. She said the outburst of Bautista’s mother, Genelyn Magsaysay, prompted her to be present in Judge Fortunito Madrona’s courtroom yesterday.

The case’s pre-trial was postponed for the second time last week because Assistant City Prosecutor Apolinar Quetulio was absent. Magsaysay asked the court to just dismiss the case since “there was no complainant.”

“I want to show her that I’m here. I want to make her feel and see that I am fighting,” said the actress.

Manahan also said that it was her first time to see all of the six suspects together and she was disappointed “because they looked so calm, as if they’ve just been to the mall.”