‘We are pursuing all leads and verifying all claims. Regardless of identity, justice will be served for the victims’
Actress Rochelle Barrameda Labarda has identified fishing magnate Lope Jimenez as a suspect in her sister's 18-year-old murder case.
Rochelle Barrameda Labarda Facebook
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested a suspect connected to the abduction and murder of businessman William Pascaran, but authorities are now investigating whether the individual is also Lope Jimenez, a fishing magnate implicated in the infamous 2007 Ruby Rose Barrameda case.
The suspect, who identified himself as Victor Vidal Dueñas, was apprehended in Mandaluyong City on Friday, 10 January during a sting operation. However, actress Rochelle Barrameda, Ruby Rose’s sister, has claimed that Dueñas is actually Lope Jimenez, one of the suspects in her sister’s brutal murder nearly 18 years ago.
According to police reports, on 5 January 5, at approximately 7 a.m., William Pascaran, 62, left his residence in a gray Toyota Innova (Plate Number AAK 2387) en route to his fish farm in Calauan, Laguna.
Later that day, Pascaran called his son at 1:57 p.m., requesting a P100,000 GCash transfer. Only P79,000 was sent due to account limits.
Repeated attempts by his son to contact him that evening went unanswered, and by the morning of 6 January, Pascaran’s phone was switched off.
Investigators revealed that Pascaran’s ATM cards were used for withdrawals at Sacred Heart Village, Quezon City, prompting his son to file a missing person’s report at the Anonas Police Station (PS 9).
CCTV footage showed Pascaran being abducted along Xavierville Avenue, Barangay Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
The investigation led authorities to track a red Mitsubishi Mirage (Plate Number WOL 880) associated with the crime. Through diligent CCTV backtracking, the vehicle was located near a vulcanizing shop in Barangay 183 Pangarap, Caloocan City. This led to the arrest of suspects Noli Banegas Cape, 29, and Mervin Juane Armas, 44.
Recovered from Cape and Armas were a .22 Black Widow 9mm firearm with five live rounds, a hand grenade, seven mobile phones, ATM cards, various IDs and a camouflage sling bag. Pascaran’s Toyota Innova was later found abandoned on Crispulo Street, Miramonte Park, Barangay 180, Caloocan City.
Under questioning, Cape disclosed that their handler, using the alias “James Paul Dwight,” orchestrated the crime and promised full payment for the murder.
Cape and Armas were instructed to meet Dwight at a McDonald’s branch in Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City, on 10 January.
A sting operation was conducted, resulting in the arrest of “Dwight,” later identified as Victor Vidal Dueñas, at 7:50 a.m. on 10 January.
Recovered from Dueñas were a blue leather belt bag, an iPhone, a pair of handcuffs with a keychain, and a wallet containing various IDs.
While Dueñas claimed to be 62 years old and a resident of Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Ayala Alabang, Rochelle Barrameda alleged on social media that he is actually Lope Jimenez, the uncle of Ruby Rose’s husband, Manuel “Third” Jimenez III.
Ruby Rose Barrameda disappeared in March 2007, and her remains were recovered two years later in a cement-filled steel drum on property owned by the Jimenez family’s fishing company. Despite testimony implicating the Jimenez family, including Lope, in the murder, they were acquitted.
Dueñas denied being Jimenez, but Rochelle Barrameda insisted he is the same man who evaded justice for years. Police recovered identification cards under the name “Victor Vidal Dueñas,” along with a handcuff key and other items, during his arrest.
QCPD Acting Director P/Col. Melecio Buslig Jr. acknowledged the allegations but stated that investigations are ongoing to confirm the suspect’s true identity.
“We are pursuing all leads and verifying all claims. Regardless of identity, justice will be served for the victims,” said Buslig who commended the team for their swift action in solving Pascaran’s case and reviving hope for justice in the Ruby Rose Barrameda case.
“This serves as a warning to criminals: the QCPD will not stop until justice prevails. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” Buslig said.
The arrest has brought renewed attention to the 2007 Ruby Rose Barrameda case, offering hope to her family that justice may finally be within reach. At the same time, the swift resolution of Pascaran’s case highlights the QCPD’s commitment to ensuring accountability for heinous crimes.
