MANILA, Philippines – The Parañaque City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the murder and frustrated murder charges filed against the younger sister of slain actor Ram Revilla and her husband for lack of evidence.
Gail Bautista-Furuyama and Takahiro Furuyuma will be spared from the ongoing court trial where seven people, including Revilla’s two other siblings – Ramona and Ramon Joseph Bautista – stand accused.
“We find the evidence insufficient to indict respondents Gail Bautista-Furuyama and Takahiro Furuyuma for murder and frustrated murder,” the decision penned by state prosecutor Lamberto Fabros read.
Fabros explained that there was nothing in the supplemental complaint filed against the couple that would show their participation in the killing of Revilla.
The Furuyumas were charged by Revilla’s girlfriend, Janelle Manahan, who was with him and sister Ramona when a gunman barged into the Bautista residence on Oct. 28, 2011.
According to Manahan, Takahiro and Gail fetched Ramona from the crime scene. Ramona was supposed to get help for Revilla and Manahan but instead went to the Las Piñas police and claimed that she was abducted by Revilla’s attackers.
Gail and Takahiro, Manahan said, corroborated the abduction claims of Ramona. Ramona has reportedly fled to Turkey.