Rochelle Barrameda, actress and sister of the late Ruby Rose Barrameda, has identified the alleged mastermind behind a recent Quezon City businessman’s murder as one of the suspects in her sister’s 2007 killing.
Rochelle made the identification at a police station after the suspect’s arrest, noting the similarities in the methods used.
“Same pa rin—drum, baon sa lupa, baon sa dagat. Ganoon pa rin ‘yung ginagawa nila, katulad ng ginawa nila sa kapatid ko,” Rochelle said in a 24 Oras Weekend report by John Consulta.
(It’s the same method—using a drum, burying it on land or in the sea. They still do the same things, like what they did to my sister.)
The Quezon City Case
The recent case involved the abduction and murder of a businessman on January 5, 2025. CCTV footage revealed that two suspects kidnapped the victim in Quezon City before moving him to Calauan, Laguna. The body was later discovered in a vacant lot in Bulacan, restrained with handcuffs and bearing ligature marks.
Footage also showed the suspects withdrawing money from the victim’s ATM cards. Among the evidence recovered were firearms, grenades, mobile phones, and identification cards.
One of the suspects confessed, detailing the crime:
“Tinape po tapos sinakal lang po, naka-tape po ‘yung buong mukha niya. Tatlo po kami,” he said.
(He was taped and strangled, his whole face was taped. There were three of us.)
Connection to Ruby Rose Barrameda’s Murder
Ruby Rose went missing in March 2007. Her body was discovered two years later in a cemented drum submerged in Navotas City waters. The primary witness, Manuel Montero, who initially identified the suspects, recanted his testimony and has since disappeared.
In 2019, the Malabon Regional Trial Court dismissed charges against Ruby Rose’s estranged husband, Manuel “Third” Jimenez III, and other accused due to insufficient evidence.
Moving Toward Justice
Despite the challenges in Ruby Rose’s case, Rochelle expressed a sense of closure:
“Hindi man sa kaso ng kapatid ko…at least sa isang kaso na doon siya masentensiyahan, para na rin kaming nagkaroon ng hustisya,” she said.
(Even though it isn’t in my sister’s case, at least if justice is served in one case, it feels like we’ve also achieved justice.)
The Quezon City suspect has been detained for further investigation, while Ruby Rose’s case remains an unresolved tragedy.