The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday said that the bodyguard of the Jimaenez family, who is one of the suspects in the murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez in 2007, was arrested.

The operatives from the NBI Special Task Forces (NBI STF) and NBI-Death Investigation Division said that after four years in hiding suspect Robert “Obet” Ponce was arrested at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Brgy. Naganacan, Cauayan, Isabela province.

The NBI said that Ponce was one of the bodyguards of Lope Jimenez, uncle of Ruby Rose’s husband Manuel Jimenez 3rd and owner of the Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing Co.

NBI-STF chief Roland Argabioso said that Ponce was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest that was issued by Malabon City Regional Trial Court Branch 170.

“The arrest of Ponce was a result of a series of surveillance and undercover operations,” he said.
Argabioso said that the bureau only received information that the suspect was spotted in the said province.

He added that Ponce went on hiding after his name was dragged by Jimenez’s former employee and witness, Manuel Montero, in the case together with Lope, who was accused of ordering the killing as instructed by his brother and father of the victim’s husband.

Barrameda-Jimenez disappeared on March 14, 2007 amid a custody battle with her husband over their two children.

Her body was found after two years inside a drum sealed with cement off Navotas City.