CA affirms raps vs suspect in Ruby Rose murder

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the indictment of fishing magnate Lope Jimenez for the killing of Ruby Rose Barrameda in 2007.

The CA’s Fourth Division dismissed the petition of Jimenez questioning an earlier resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) approving the filing of murder case against him in court.

The appellate court held that the DOJ did not commit grave abuse of discretion in charging Jimenez based on the testimony of confessed killer Manuel Montero.

The CA ruling was penned by Associate Justice Eduardo Peralta Jr.

It rejected the claim of Jimenez that the case must be dismissed on the basis of technicality.

The petitioner is among the three principal accused in the murder of Barrameda, sister of actress Rochelle Barrameda. The others are the victim’s husband, Manuel Jimenez III and his father Manuel Jimenez Jr.

The other accused are alleged henchmen Eric Fernandez, Robert Ponce and Lennard Descalso.

Barrameda was reported missing by her family in March 2007. Her body — placed in a steel drum and filled with cement – was found in the waters off Navotas two years later.

The Supreme Court has discharged Montero as a state witness in the murder case.