Revilla slay star witness testifies

MANILA, Philippines - A witness – whose statement led to the arrest of suspects in the murder of actor Ram Revilla – identified yesterday five of the accused, including the victim’s brother, Ramon Joseph Bautista, as he testified in open court.

Ruel Puzon also showed the court a picture of Revilla (real name Ramgen Bautista), which he said was given to him when the suspects hired him on Oct. 12, 2011 to kill the actor.

Puzon took the folded picture, which measures about three inches long, from his wallet and showed it to Judge Fortunito Madrona. In it, a smiling Revilla wore a maroon shirt and denim pants.

Puzon said he was not aware who Revilla was and only knew him through the photograph, given to him by Ryan Pastera, one of three accused middlemen. The two others are Norween de la Cruz and his girlfriend, Glaiza Visda, whom Puzon also identified in open court.

Puzon also identified accused gunman Michael Nartea, who he said was a known robber and “namamaril (gun-for-hire)” in their neighborhood.

The witness also mentioned the name of another suspected gunman, Roy Francis Tolisora, during his two-hour testimony, but did not identify him in court.

Puzon said the photograph was initially given to Tolisora, who, together with Nartea were the first ones hired to kill Revilla.  When they failed to do the job, Puzon said he was recruited by Pastera to replace Tolisora.

“They said Kiko (Tolisora) was scared,” Puzon told the court.

Denials

Ramon Joseph and Pastera denied Puzon’s allegations. After the hearing, Ramon Joseph said the testimony was “all not true. I’ve never met him in my life.”

Pastera, who was handcuffed beside Ramon Joseph, smirked and shook his head: “What he said is wrong. We have evidence that we really did not see him.”

For Visda, lawyer Claire Castro said Puzon failed to implicate her client. “Glaiza had no participation aside from driving the car to Puzon’s house on Oct. 12, 2011.” After the hearing, Visda kissed and embraced De la Cruz before the jail guard handcuffed her again.

Puzon’s story

Puzon said Pastera, Visda, De la Cruz, and Nartea went to his house in Poultry Compound, Parañaque City about 6 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2011. He was asked to ride Visda’s red Toyota Vios and they drove to Tolisora’s house to take back two handguns.  

Visda, he said, took the guns from Tolisora. But the latter gave back only the .45 caliber handgun because the .38 caliber pistol had been pawned already.

Puzon, Pastera and Nartea met again on Oct. 14, 2011. The witness said Pastera, in a Toyota Innova, met them along C-5 Golden Haven in Las Piñas City about 1:25 p.m.

Nartea and Puzon went into the car where Pastera allegedly handed them the P19,000 to “redeem the gun.”

Beside Pastera was Ramon Joseph on front passenger seat, Puzon told the court. The judge asked Puzon if he was “sure” that it was Ramon Joseph he saw and not a “look-alike.” Puzon said yes, adding that Ramon Joseph “turned his head in our direction.”

After receiving the money, Nartea and Puzon went home. Two days later, Puzon met Pastera again. This time, they went to Revilla’s house in BF Homes, together with De la Cruz, about 3 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2011.

“He showed me Ramgen’s house,” Puzon said, referring to his conversation with Pastera. According to Puzon, Pastera showed him the garage and gave him Revilla’s plate number.

Puzon said the group planned to have Revilla shot once he left the house. He added that Pastera was talking to a certain Joseph over the phone early that morning.

“He (Pastera) took Ramgen’s plate number,” Puzon said when asked what the phone conversation was about. The witness added that he saved the plate number in his cellular phone.

After 15 minutes, Puzon, Pastera, and De la Cruz parted ways. On Oct. 19, 2011, Puzon said Pastera asked to him meet again. He said that was the last meeting he had with the group and he has since refused to see Pastera. Puzon added that he did not accept the group’s offer to kill Revilla, despite accompanying them to the victim’s house.

“Eestapahin lang naman po namin yung pera ni Ryan (We will just swindle Ryan out of his money),” he said.

According to the witness, he found out about Revilla’s death on television and approached the police afterward. But days before that, Nartea would tell him “our job is nearly done.”