Dannyka Manangan

ON THIS DAY: The controversial death of actor Ramgen Revilla, son of Ramon Revilla Sr.

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Fourteen years have passed since the brutal killing of actor Ramgen Revilla, yet the mystery surrounding his death continues to cast a shadow over the Philippine entertainment industry and the prominent Revilla clan.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761743268047OTD-Oct_29-RamgenRevilla.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>On October 29, 2011, Ramgen Revilla, son of the late senator and actor Ramon Revilla Sr. and Genelyn Magsaysay, was killed inside their family home in BF Homes, Parañaque City.</p><p>According to police reports, a masked assailant entered the residence and attacked Ramgen and his girlfriend, Janelle Manahan. Ramgen sustained multiple gunshot and stab wounds, while Janelle was shot in the face and shoulder but survived after undergoing emergency surgery.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4wcc4NnSvpI" title="Actor Ram Revilla killed in ParaÃ±aque home" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Ramgen was declared dead on arrival at the Parañaque Medical Center, while Janelle’s recovery allowed her to later testify about the events that unfolded that night.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/clxCEFVAXw4" title="ANC Pipol: Janelle Manahan 2/4" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Then-senator and Ramgen’s half-brother Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. offered a ₱500,000 reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of the suspects. </p><p>According to <a href="https://www.philstar.com/metro/2011/10/31/742676/ram-revilla-murder-too-many-angles-motives">PhilStar Global</a><strong>, </strong>police reports stated that Ramgen and Janelle were inside his room when “a lone attacker” barged in around 9 p.m.</p><p>Investigators said the assailant shot Janelle twice, then turned to Ramgen. A struggle ensued between the actor and the attacker before Ramgen was fatally stabbed.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YTK7YHQSKFk" title="Friends, family mourn death of Ram Revilla" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Ramgen’s sister Ramona “Mara” Bautista reportedly ran to his room after hearing the commotion. Janelle, who had lost consciousness during the attack, later recalled fragments of the incident.</p><p>Police later reported that the assailant fled with an accomplice, allegedly taking Ramona with them. She was dropped off near a mall in Las Piñas City about an hour later. Janelle regained consciousness before midnight and managed to text a friend, who then alerted authorities.</p><p>According to Chief Inspector Enrique Sy, it was “possible” that the assailant was familiar with the house layout, noting that the attack “only took about ten seconds.” Then Parañaque Police Chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran also clarified that neighbors and house helpers failed to hear gunshots because the suspect used a silencer during the assault.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7DBVSzyq6DQ" title="Court inspects Ramgen murder crime scene" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The case quickly gained national attention due to its shocking nature and alleged family ties. Investigators later suspected that Ramgen’s own siblings: Ramon Joseph “RJ” Bautista and Ramona Bautista were involved in orchestrating the crime.</p><p>Authorities initially theorized that the possible motive stemmed from family financial disputes, particularly disagreements over the siblings’ monthly allowances.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsypMKp0h24" title="Bautista siblings had dispute, aides say" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The suspicions deepened when Ronald Ancajas, Ramgen’s personal aide, claimed he saw Ramona and RJ leaving the house on the night of the incident. Two subdivision security guards also reportedly supported his statement.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WKBCDgffPKI" title="RJ, Ramona behind Ram&#x27;s murder, says new witness" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Later, Ramona admitted in an interview with ANC’s <em>Dateline Philippines</em> that her earlier claim of being abducted after the attack was untrue, saying she fabricated the story out of shame of leaving her brother and fear that the suspect might come after her.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZK_i2ymYteY" title="EXCLUSIVE: Ramona Bautista denies she is an accomplice in the murder of Ram Revilla" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The investigation took another turn when a man named Ruel Puzon came forward, claiming knowledge of the people involved in the murder. His statement was corroborated by a second witness, Loyd Comeda, who also linked Ramgen’s siblings RJ and Ramona to the incident.</p><p>RJ was later arrested and detained pending trial, while Ramona fled the country amid the investigation. She resurfaced months later in Turkey, where she has since lived with her husband.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AD1tfyDs2oI" title="Janelle vows justice for Ramgen" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>After nearly eight years of court proceedings, the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274 handed down its decision in June 2019, acquitting RJ Bautista and five others—Michael Jay Nartea, Roy Francis Tolisora, Glaiza Visda, Jan Norwin Dela Cruz, and Bryan Pastera—due to insufficient evidence.</p><p> In the same ruling, Judge Betlee-Ian Barraquias stated that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt and noted the lack of physical or forensic evidence tying the accused to the crime. The court also issued an alias warrant of arrest for Ramona Bautista.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong><iframe width="511" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GPs8hAg2imo" title="Ramona blames murder on Ram&#x27;s assistant" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><strong></strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/14/19/paraaque-court-clears-suspects-in-actor-ram-revillas-2011-slay"><strong>READ: Parañaque court clears suspects in actor Ram Revilla&#x27;s 2011 slay</strong></a></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Fourteen years after the killing, no one has been convicted for the murder of Ramgen Revilla. Despite multiple witnesses, suspects, and lengthy legal proceedings, the case remains one of the most high-profile and controversial crimes in the Philippine entertainment industry.</p>