THE Department of Justice yesterday ordered a manhunt for Ma. Ramona “Mara” Bautista, half-sister of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., tagged in the killing of their brother Ramgen and the wounding of his girlfriend Janelle Manahan.

Ramona, who earlier admitted faking her kidnapping by the two masked killers, fled to Hong Kong Friday amid the investigation of the case.

Her flight shocked and angered her senator brother who said her action only showed her guilt.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to hunt down Ramona now believed to be hiding in Turkey where her Turkish husband resides.

De Lima said she has already instructed the NBI to coordinate with the Interpol to get Ramona and make her face criminal proceedings here.

"Flight as indication of guilt is always the presumption unless negated by a good explanation, " she said.

De Lima however, admitted she was not sure if Ramona could be extradited without an arrest warrant against her issued by a local court.

Still, she wants the NBI to look into the circumstances of the flight and expects the Revilla family, particularly the senator, to cooperate in the investigation.

Ramona, 22, and her younger brother Ramon Joseph, 18, were believed to be behind the conspiracy to kill their older brother Ramgen, 23.

RJ remains under the custody of the Parañaque police.

Meanwhile, Senator Revilla vowed to do everything in his power to give Ramgen justice at all cost.

Bong said the result of police investigation implicating his two half-siblings in the murder of Ramgen and in the near killing of Manahan will not change his stand in the quest for justice.

“Matindi ang idinulot na dalamhati pait at lagim ng pagkamatay ni Ramgen sa aming pamilya. Ito ay lalo pang pinalubha ng pagkakadawit ngayon ng dalawa kong kapatid sa ama sa krimeng ito. Ngunit ipinapangako ko na ang sakit na dinaranas ng aming pamilya ay hindi magiging hadlang o sagabal sa agarang paglutas ng kasong ito, at paghahanap nating lahat ng hustisya,” he said.

The senator said the whole family was also surprised by Ramona’s sudden change of statements particularly on her prior statement that she was kidnapped by the killers of Ramgen.

The other day, Bong dared Ramona’s mother Genelyn  Magsaysay to make her return immediately to clear her name if she really is innocent.

He called on the authorities to do everything within their mandate to solve the case no matter who gets hit.

He asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to exert legal and diplomatic efforts and the Philippine National Police to coordinate with the Interpol to bring Ramona back to the country.