Police probe shocks Revilla family
Statement: Not acceptable until proven beyond reasonable doubt
The Revilla clan is shocked and saddened with the progress of the investigation on Ram Revilla’s killing, wherein two of their family members were named as suspects.
The police investigation reveals that Ram’s younger siblings Ramon Joseph “RJ” Bautista, 18, plotted the murder, while Ramona Mara Bautista, 22, is an accessory to the crime, reports said. RJ and Ramona, and five other suspects Michael Altia, Roy Francis Tolisora, Norwin de la Cruz, one alias Bryan, and one alias Glaiza were charged of murder and frustrated murder.
Aside from grieving over Ram’s death, the Revilla family is also taking care of former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., who was brought to St. Luke’s Hospital due to fever and high blood pressure. Sen. Bong Revilla’s spokesperson Portia Ilagan shared the family’s sentiments regarding the initial findings of the police investigations.
"Hindi pa man naililibing ang isa, isinasangkot naman ang isa pa. This is a tragic death made even more tragic by the fact that a family member is being implicated," Portia read Bong’s statement to ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” on Tuesday, November 1.
The family reiterated it will not accept RJ’s alleged involvement in the murder until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt. The Revilla family also want to check the credibility of the suspects tagging RJ as the mastermind.
“Hindi kami makapaniwala na may kinalaman nga siya, hangga’t hindi napapatunayan, beyond reasonable doubt, na ginawa nga niya ang ibinibintang sa kanya. Ang hiling lang namin ay bigyan pansin ang kredibilidad ng mga suspek na isinasangkot ang aming kapatid sa ama na si Joseph.”
Despite the accusations and charges filed to their family members, the Revilla family won’t stop looking for justice for Ram’s death.
"We call on the Task Force Ramgen to make sure that the result of the investigation must not lead to irreparable damage to the innocent, especially to their family members," Portia read.
According to “TV Patrol,” other suspects pointed RJ as the mastermind to his brother’s murder. Witness Noel Puzon said that RJ paid a down payment of P19,000 to the hired killers.
Ramona, on the other hand, first claimed that she was kidnapped after her brother was murdered in his house in BF Homes, Paranaque City. Police investigation now says that Ramona’s story was just a cover-up and she was an accessory to the crime.
“Siya ay accessory sa crime dahil [sinabihan] siya ni Janelle na tumawag ng ambulansya o tulong pero hindi siya bumalik. Umalis [siya] at nakita ito ng mga gwardiya nga ng subdivision at pati nu'ng personal assistant,” Chief Inspector Enrique Sy said, head of Task Force Ramgen.
Politics, robbery and love triangle have been ruled-out as police investigation says that the murder is stemmed from personal conflict.
Ram will be laid to rest on Wednesday, November 2 at 2 p.m.
