MANILA, Philippines - Did slain actor Ram Revilla (Ramgen Bautista in real life) physically abuse his younger siblings and his mother?
According to two men who claimed to have been hired to kill Ramgen, 23, this is one of the reasons why the masterminds – allegedly headed by his younger brother, Ramon Joseph Bautista 18; and sister Ma. Ramona “Mara” Bautista, 22 – wanted the actor killed.
In a taped interview with The STAR, Ramgen’s mother, Genelyn Magsaysay refused to give a categorical answer, insisting that the stories against her children were “fabricated.”
Star witness Ruel “Katcho” Puzon was the first to tell police that the actor’s death may have had something to do with the way he treated his siblings.
“What I know is that Michael and Kiko were supposed to be paid P200,000 to kill Ramgen, who was supposed to be bad, fought with his parents and hurt his siblings,” he said in his affidavit, referring to Michael Nartea and Roy Francis “Kiko” Tolisora, who reportedly failed to kill Ramgen on Oct. 12. Puzon said he turned down an offer to take their place.
In the counter-affidavit he submitted before the Parañaque City prosecutor, Tolisora said a certain Brian approached him on Sept. 28 and offered him P250,000 to kill Ramgen.
“Brian said I needed to do the job quickly because Ramgen hurt his siblings and even his mother,” he said.
When Tolisora’s initial attempts failed, a “furious” Brian allegedly phoned him on Oct. 10 and said Ramgen had to be killed immediately because he hit his mother and two of his younger siblings again because Magsaysay reportedly told her children’s father, former senator Ramon Revilla Sr., that Ramgen allegedly used drugs and spent the money meant for the family budget on guns.
‘Overprotective’
Magsaysay refused to give a categorical answer when sought for clarification, saying Ramgen was merely “overprotective” of his siblings.
She said the suspects are “just saying” the allegations to implicate Mara, Joseph and herself. “I will not give them a chance to implicate us,” Magsaysay said.
She also categorically denied that Ramgen used to beat her, and that Ramgen was addicted to drugs.
“Di ako sinasaktan ni Ramgen, ano lang kami ni Ramgen, bibig kaming dalawa. Nag uusap kami minsan nagsisigawan kaming dalawa. Kasi minsan hindi niya maintindihan yung sinasabi ko, minsan di ko maintindihan sinasabi niya (Ramgen never hurt me. We just mouth off. When we talk, sometimes we shout at each other. Sometimes he does not understand what I say, sometimes I don’t understand what he says). After that we will kiss and make up,” she said.
Magsaysay said she believes in the innocence of her children and asked the public to give them a chance to prove it. Ramona fled to Turkey, while Joseph is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.
“You know, it’s but natural for families to have differences but not to the extent of killing a brother,” she said.