The Department of Justice has cleared Navotas businessman Manuel Jimenez Jr. and his brother, Lope, of murder charges in connection with the brutal slay of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, sister of former actress Rochelle Barrameda.

However, in a 12-page resolution signed by then DoJ Secretary Agnes Devanadera, the justice department found probable cause to charge the victim’s husband, Jimenez III, with parricide for the death of his estranged wife.

Murder is a non-bailable offense.

Lope, his brother Manuel Jr., a lawyer and five others were earlier charged with murder before a Navotas court for the death of Ruby Rose. The victim’s body which was stuffed in a steel drum and cemented in a steel casing was fished out from the waters of Navotas last year.

One of the suspects in the killing, Manuel Montero led authorities to where the victim’s body was dumped two years ago.

Upon review, Devanadera overturned the findings of the investigating prosecutors who found enough evidence to link Manuel Jr. to the murder. Manuel Jr. owns Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing and Trading Co. (BSJ).

In clearing the Jimenez brothers of murder, Devanadera upheld the argument of their counsel Ferdinand Topacio that the brothers could not have conspired to kill Ruby Rose as they had been estranged long before Ruby Rose died because of differences in running the family business.

In the same resolution, however, the DoJ granted the Petition for Review of the Barrameda family and ordered the filing of parricide charges against Manuel Jimenez III, saying the statements made by Montero as to the participation of Manuel Jimenez III to the killing are “independent relevant statements” and cannot be simply considered as “hearsay.” (Jeamma E. Sabate)