Judge to Angono cops: Turn over Ruby Rose in-law

MANILA, Philippines - A Malabon judge warned yesterday the police chief of Angono, Rizal that he would be cited in contempt if he does not bring before the court one of the accused murderers of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez.

Malabon Regional Trial Court Branch 70 Judge Hector Almeyda directed Superintendent Rommel Estolano to explain in writing why he failed to bring Manuel Jimenez Jr. to court yesterday to attend the hearing of a motion to commit him to the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Rowena Guanzon, who represents the victim’s family, asked the court to immediately cite Estolano in contempt but Almeyda gave the police chief time to explain.

During the hearing, Dr. Ronelio Cabuling, Jimenez’s attending cardiologist, said his patient, who underwent a heart bypass in 2003, has an irregular heartbeat and suffers from hypertension.

However, Chief Inspector Mark Jason Lira, a Camp Crame Hospital neurologist, said it was safe to transfer Jimenez to jail.

Jimenez was confined at the Angono Medics Hospital after he surrendered to Estolano on Friday.

Rizal police director Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas said they tried last Tuesday to return to the court the warrant for Jimenez’s arrest and bring a certification from Cabuling that Jimenez was unfit to travel.

However, the courtroom was flooded and nobody had reported for work to receive the papers, he added.

Almeyda also refused to resolve a motion to transfer the hearing of the case to Makati because he has yet to “take cognizance of the case.”  – Non Alquitran