MANILA, Philippines - Slain actor Ramgen Bautista’s siblings could have conspired to kill him because he was strict and had hurt them physically, lawyers representing his girlfriend said yesterday.
Resty Mendoza submitted actress Janelle Manahan’s sworn affidavit yesterday afternoon to the Office of Assistant Parañaque City Prosecutor Leah Roma. Manahan was not present during the filing of her affidavit.
Mendoza said Manahan, in her affidavit, affirmed the rift between her boyfriend and his siblings and that Ramgen was a strict disciplinarian.
“He would hurt his siblings. This is probably the motive for the siblings to kill him,” Mendoza told reporters after yesterday’s continuation of the preliminary investigation.
“For the past five years Janelle has been with the Bautistas, she witnessed heated arguments and some form of physical disciplining,” he added.
Mendoza said Manahan recounted how Ramgen tried to strangle his sister Regelyn Gail because she did not go home. She also recounted how Ramgen punched his brother Ruben for not finishing a school project, said Mendoza.
“This is a series of physical violence to prompt the siblings to get rid of their kuya (eldest brother). It is not a simple family feud but a series of violence,” Mendoza said.
Ramgen’s mother, Genelyn Magsaysay, also went to the prosecutor’s office to submit an original copy of the counter-affidavit filed last Friday by her daughter Ma. Ramona “Mara” Bautista, one of the suspects in Ramgen’s murder.
Roma accepted the photocopied counter-affidavit last Friday on the condition that the original copy would be presented to her on or before the next scheduled hearing yesterday. Mara is married to a Turkish national.
Mara’s lawyer, Aguido Jeffrey Gepte, told reporters his client will return to the Philippines to face charges should the case be elevated to court.