Janelle takes witness stand

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Janelle Manahan took the witness stand for the first time yesterday, accusing her slain boyfriend Ram Revilla’s sister, Ramona Bautista, of leaving them to die after a gunman shot her and her boyfriend.

Manahan cried as she told the court what she recalled of the night when Revilla (real name Ramgen Bautista) was killed on Oct. 28, 2011.

The three were in Revilla’s room in the Bautista residence in BF homes, Parañaque when a gunman barged in about 11 p.m.

Manahan said she was shot first but Revilla did not notice until Ramona called his attention. The gunman had a silencer attached to his gun, Manahan said.

The actress did not explain how Revilla was shot and hit by the attacker. She said the two got out of the room and when Revilla came back, he was already bloodied.

Revilla blocked the door and ask Ramona to lock it. Manahan could not remember if Ramona obeyed her brother. 

During the attack, Manahan said Ramona just kept saying “oh my God ang daming dugo (there’s so much blood).” She said the gunman only stopped when Ramona said, “Tama na, tama na (enough, enough) in an ordering manner.”

She said minutes after the attack, Ramona was still in the room and called her and Revilla’s name. Both of them did not answer.

“I intended not to answer anymore. She shouted again and we (Revilla and she) were not responding,” Manahan said, adding that Ramona then left the room and told them, “Wait lang ha hihingi ako ng tulong (Just wait, I’ll ask for help).”

The help never came, said Manahan. Ramona later claimed she was abducted by Revilla’s attackers. She then recanted it before flying to Turkey.

Ramona and six others were charged with murder and frustrated murder in connection with the attack. She and brother Ramon Joseph Bautista are the principal accused. The seven have denied any participation in the crime.

Meanwhile, lawyer Claire Castro informed Judge Fortunito Madrona that her client and accused middleman Glaiza Visda had been receiving threats. Madrona ordered his staff to subpoena the warden of the Parañaque city jail.

Madrona also approved Genelyn Magsaysay’s request to grant her son, Ramon Joseph, a six-hour furlough on Oct. 28 to allow him to commemorate the first anniversary of Revilla’s death with his family.