Preliminary probe for Ramona reset

MANILA, Philippines - The preliminary investigation into the murder and frustrated murder charges against Ramona Bautista in connection with the death of her elder brother, actor Ram Revilla, was reset anew after her lawyer failed to appear in court yesterday.

Ramona’s lawyer, Dennis Mananzal, was given until Nov. 25 to oppose the charges filed against his client by the Parañaque City police, said Chief Inspector Enrique Sy.

Ramona left the country a week after Revilla (real name Ramgen Jose Bautista) was shot and stabbed to death on Oct. 28 in their house in BF Homes.

Ramona initially claimed she was abducted by Revilla’s attacker, but recanted afterwards. She is a principal suspect in the crime.

Authorities have yet to determine her exact location after reports said she and her husband have left Turkey.

At the same time, the police filed another amended information to correct the name of a suspected middleman known as “Brian.” Sy said Brian’s real name is Ryan Pastera, an alleged friend of Revilla’s younger brother, Joseph, who is accused of masterminding the crime.