LIPA CITY, Batangas – In a murder case straight out of a telenovela, police filed charges against two women and two others Friday in connection with the death of Edelina Ramos, the 55-year-old widow of former Sto. Tomas Vice Mayor Ferdinand Ramos.
Lipa City chief of police, Lt. Col. Ramon Balauag, identified the mastermind as Florina Ramos, the 63-year-old sister of Ferdinand who was shot July 2018, fell in a coma and died nine months later.
Also arrested was Joan Zara Ramos, 29, wife of the victim’s son named after his father.
Jerry Rabano, the alleged gunman, and one John Doe, who remained at large, were also charged, according to police.
Balauag said investigations showed that the Ramos couple had been quarreling over Edelina’s mounting debts and Ferdinand’s alleged extra-marital affairs.
This was confirmed by the victim’s children – Ferdinand Ramos Jr. and Francis Ramos who added that their aunt Florina held a grudge against their mother whom she suspected as behind the death of her brother.
In his sworn statement, Ferdinand Jr. said he overheard his wife Joan and his aunt Florian talking about hiring a killer sometime this year.
He said he confronted the two about this, but was told the target was his older brother Fernan.
On the eve of June 2, the day Edelina was shot dead, Ferdinand Jr. said he saw his wife handing over a huge amount of cash to a man outside their residence in Lipa City. His wife later identified the man as Jerry Rabano, purportedly a hired killer from Lipa.
On June 2, Rabano, accompanied by Joan, barged into the house of Edelina in Poblacion Barangay 2, Sto. Tomas at 11 p.m. and fired at the victim thrice, including one in the head.
Another unidentified male companion helped the two suspects carry the victim’s body into a red Mitsubishi pick-up L200 with plate TTD-964 which was owned by the Ramos couple.
The victim’s body was found the next day in Barangay Halang.
Balauag said they have recovered footages from closed circuit television (CCTV) placing the vehicle near the area where the body was discovered.
Angel, the 16-year-old daughter of the victim, told police that she witnessed the crime, but kept quiet because she feared for her safety.
The siblings opened up only when police investigators visited the Ramos residence on June 6.
In his testimony, Ferdinand Jr, said upon his return on that fateful night, he noticed that his mother was gone, their vehicle missing and the garage cleaned.
Meanwhile, Angel was placed under the care of a social worker. When presented with the rogue’s gallery, she positively identified the gunman as Rabano, 46.
Joan and Florina were arrested in their respective residences. (Lyka Manalo)