With the help of the group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), she said she wants to speak with Manalo to discuss the issue that she said she has chosen to ignore until recently, when the Department of Justice (DOJ), in a “midnight” resolution dated March 1, decided to drop Lope Jimenez, the victim’s uncle-in-law, as an accused.
“Before the case was filed, a lot of people have been talking to me but I ignored them until this resolution was issued,” Rochelle told The STAR in an interview.
“I’ve been hearing so many things, a lot of people have been telling me about it. If there’s a chance to talk to Ka Eduardo, why not?” she said.
Rochelle said Lope, based on information bared by suspect-turned-state witness Manuel Montero, became a member of the INC to protect his fishing business.
“I have a big respect for any religious group but who knows, maybe Ka Eduardo doesn’t even know. INC members are the ones actually telling me,” she said.
Rochelle said she is disappointed because Agnes Devanadera dropped the case against Jimenez just before she stepped down as justice secretary. “There was a preliminary investigation and she herself said we have a strong case,” Rochelle said.
The DOJ resolution leaves only Ruby Rose’s father-in-law, lawyer Manuel Jimenez II, and her husband, Manuel Jimenez III, to stand trial for murder before the Malabon regional trial court.
The VACC said the Barramedas will file a motion for reconsideration of the DOJ resolution on Monday.
Based on Montero’s revelations, Manuel Jimenez II and Lope Jimenez were the ones who allegedly ordered him to abduct and kill Ruby Rose, whose body was found stuffed in a steel drum that was filled with cement and submerged in the waters off the Navotas fish port in June 2009.
INC also meddling in Ivler murder trial?
The VACC expressed alarm over reports that lawyers of the religious group are also allegedly influencing the trial of road rage murder suspect Jason Ivler, who allegedly killed Renato Ebarle Jr., son of Malacañang Undersecretary Renato Ebarle.
The group, in a letter to Manalo, said the “delicate” matter needs to be discussed considering how the issue is threatening to erode the victims’ confidence in the INC and the whole criminal justice system.
“The disturbing reports that we received dragging the Iglesia ni Cristo into the two cases we mentioned have further added to the worries and frustrations of the Barrameda family. The witness, Manuel Montero, has expressed the same concern,” the VACC said.
The community of victims at VACC “is disturbed by these questions of alleged meddling by the religious group, having trusted in INC and its strongest sense of justice and non-partisan politics in its long unblemished history. We have made representations with… Manalo to discuss this delicate matter in a private meeting.”
The STAR tried but failed to contact Manalo or other INC officials. – With Evelyn Macairan - By Michael Punongbayan (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
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