Fishing magnate faces raps for body-in-box murder

MANILA, Philippines - A fishing magnate is a key suspect in a Mafia-style murder after the body of a woman stuffed in a metal box was retrieved from the bottom of Manila Bay, police said yesterday.

Ruby Rose Jimenez, 26, the sister of actress Rochelle Barrameda, disappeared on March 14, 2007 after a bitter custody dispute with her estranged husband, Manuel Jimenez III, for their two children.

Last week, police arrested Manuel Montero, one of seven suspects who has since agreed to turn state witness in the killing, said National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

Rosales said they filed murder charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against seven people, including Lope Jimenez, owner of Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing and Trading Co. based in Navotas, and his brother, Manuel Jimenez II.

Others charged for Ruby Rose’s murder are Eric Fernandez; Spike Discalzo; Roberto Ponce, alias Abet; Rudy de la Cruz, and Montero.

Rosales said they will also ask the DOJ to issue a hold departure order to prevent the suspects from leaving the country.

PNP confirms body is Ruby Rose’s

Rosales said among the evidence they forwarded to the DOJ were Montero’s sworn statements and the laboratory, autopsy and odontology reports prepared by the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He said they are also asking the DOJ to place Montero under the government’s witness protection program.

Montero is currently under the 24-hour protection of the NCRPO.

Rosales said he was still the commander of the Southern Police District (SPD) two years ago when the victim’s parents, Robert and Asuncion Barrameda, asked for his help in finding Ruby Rose.

The victim, who separated from her husband in December 2006, lost the battle for the custody of her two children, then aged seven years and four months.

Ruby Rose was scheduled to visit her two children at the Jimenez residence in BF Homes when she disappeared.

“We have approached several government agencies for help but they failed to make any progress to the case. Our family expresses our sincere and deepest thanks to Gen. Rosales for solving the case. Finally justice would be served her,” Robert, the victim’s father, said.

Rosales said the breakthrough in the case came when Montero called him up and expressed willingness to reveal what he knew about Ruby Rose’s disappearance.

“He wanted to surrender because he was bothered by his conscience. We met at a place in Metro Manila and I immediately placed him in a safehouse for his security and safety,” Rosales told The STAR.

Rosales assigned Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (RPIOU), to work on the case.

It took Francisco almost a month to find Ruby Rose’s body off the shores of Navotas, with the aide of a sketch provided by Montero.

“The body of water was so large that it took us several days before hitting pay dirt,” said Francisco, hours after salvaging the victim’s body, which was cemented inside a drum and covered by a steel case.

Ruby Rose was positively identified by her father, Robert, at the crime laboratory in Camp Crame through her earrings, striped Lacoste t-shirt, slacks and dental records.

“’Yong itsura n’ya, sya talaga (The way she looked, it’s really her),” Robert told The STAR.

Rosales said they did not include the victim’s husband among the suspects because Montero failed to mention him and there is no evidence at this time linking him to the crime. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe