Cop takes witness stand

MANILA, Philippines - The bail hearing for the six accused in the Ram Revilla murder case started yesterday with the first prosecution witness taking the stand.

Senior Police Officer 4 Charlie Bayoca, head of the Parañaque police follow-up unit, narrated before the court how he arrested the two suspected gunmen – Francis Tolisora and Michael Nartea – two days after the Oct. 28 slay.

Bayoca said the arrest of Tolisora and Nartea stemmed from the testimony of star witness Ruel Puzon, who allegedly told the police the plot to kill Revilla.

The defense lawyers questioned Bayoca’s credibility as a witness after the policeman failed to answer some of their questions, including the alleged participation of Ramon Joseph Bautista, Revilla’s brother and one of the alleged masterminds in the crime.

Revilla, Ramgen Bautista in real life, was killed inside his home in BF Homes, Parañaque, on Oct. 28. He was with girlfriend Janelle Manahan and sister Ramona when he was shot to death. Manahan was also shot in the face and shoulder.

Seven people, including Ramona, younger brother Ramon Joseph, Glaiza Visda, Norween de la Cruz, and Ryan Pastera, were tagged as suspects in the murder.

All the accused, except for Ramona who is reportedly in Turkey, are detained at the Parañaque City jail.

In his statement to the police, Puzon said that the group plotting to kill Revilla approached him on Oct. 12.

Puzon claimed the suspects would be paid P200,000 for the job and that the masterminds “wanted Ramgen dead because he was bad, a rebel son and hurts his siblings.”

Tolisora and Nartea, in their affidavits, confirmed Puzon’s statement but stressed that they were replaced after they failed to kill Revilla on the first attempt.

The Bautistas, Visda, De la Cruz, and Pastera have denied participation in the crime.

Ramon Joseph stressed that the evidence against them was weak.

His lawyer Jeffrey Gepte added that Bayoca was not competent to take the witness stand.