The Department of Justice will file murder charges against six men linked to the killing of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, including her father-in-law, Manuel Jimenez Jr.
The DOJ panel found probable cause to indict Ruby Rose’s father-in-law, Manuel Jimenez Jr., his brother Lope Jimenez, Manuel Montero, Eric Fernandez, Lennard Descalso, and Robert Ponce.
But an investigating panel recommended the dismissal of the complaint against her husband, Manuel Jimenez III, from whom Ruby Rose was estranged. The couple was said to be engaged in a bitter custody battle for their two young daughters when she disappeared.
Aside from Ruby Rose’s estranged husband, Manuel, the panel recommended the dismissal of the complaint against a Rudy dela Cruz, for lack of evidence.
After Ruby Rose was killed, her body was placed in a cement-sealed steel container which was thrown into the sea off Navotas Fish Port, where the Jimenezes own property. The body might never have been found if a man claiming to be an accomplice to the crime had not told authorities of the exact location of the body.
The case would be lodged before the Navotas Regional Trial Court.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the investigating panel based its recommendation on the affidavit submitted by eye witness Manuel Montero, who came out in the open last June to tell the Barrameda family the location of Ruby Rose’s body.
Montero alleged that his employer, Lope Jimenez, Ruby Rose's uncle, ordered him and the other suspects to carry out Ruby Rose's killing because she supposedly brought shame to the Jimenez family.
Montero will remain as an accused until the court grants his motion to be discharged as one of the suspects and be allowed to turn state witness.
The DOJ panel’s recommendation came as a surprise to the Jimenez family, according to their legal counsel, Mario Aguinaldo.
"Si Mr. Jimenez (Jr.) was shocked because he was really not involved in the crime. But his son (Jimenez III, also known as Third) felt vindicated. So the family really has mixed emotions right now," Aguinaldo told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.
He added that Jimenez Jr. is prepared to face the case in court and debunk Montero’s allegations.
Devanadera said the DOJ would also ask the court to discharge Montero from the list of the accused so he could be a state witness.
At this point in time, do we still think that justice prevails in the Philippines? Crime pays. The rich don't serve time. Someone please prove me wrong.
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