PNP to secure Piques after "threat" gesture

CEBU, Philippines - The family of Ellah Joy Pique was promised adequate protection by the PNP after Bella Ruby Santos allegedly gave Renante Pique, Ellah’s father, a threatening gesture during a court hearing last Friday.

Pique went to the Cebu Provincial Police Office yesterday and informed provincial director Patrocinio Comendador about the threat he received from Santos; she allegedly looked at him while running a finger across her throat.

He also went to the Fuente Police Station on Saturday morning to report what happened.

“Nakuyawan ko sa iyang sinyas nga gulgol sa liog pero at least naa nay record ang pulis,” Pique said.

Pique claimed that even before he was threatened by Santos last Friday five persons allegedly came looking for him in Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla.

Their neighbors said the persons pretended they were doing a survey and asked about his family’s personal life.

“Sige kuno ug pangutana kung asa ko trabaho ug kung ako ra bang asawa usa ang mahibilin sa balay kada-adlaw,” he told reporters.

The unknown persons allegedly introduced themselves as personnel of the Land Transportation Office but did not show any ID cards as proof.

Comendador personally directed Minglanilla police chief Chief Insp. Laurel Almirante to secure Ellah’s family.

“She (Santos) should respect the court ipaagi unta sa proseso sa balaod dili anang hulga,” he said.

The Task Force Ellah Joy is now studying and planning to file another case against Santos for giving threats even inside the court.

Ellah Joy was kidnapped coming home from school last February, she was later found dead in Barili town, believed to be a victim of child pornography and killed when she fought back at her abductors.

Meanwhile, Santos also reported last Wednesday evening that her house in barangay Inayagan, Naga City, was burglarized.

About 10:30 p.m., Santos went to Naga Police Station to report that the burglar took her Sony Vaio laptop worth P60,000; a Sony digital camera worth P17,000; an Olympus digital camera; and an Apple i-touch.

Santos alleged that she left the house around noon that same day and returned home that evening only to found out that the mentioned valuables were gone.

PO1 Junarie Latorre of the Naga Police Station said the burglar entered the house after scaling the back perimeter fence of the house using stacked tires.

“Gipatong-patong niya ang ligid didto sa luyo aron makasulod,” Latorre said.

Comendador said he will let Naga policemen investigate the incident but Santos has to provide the burden of proof that her house was really burglarized. (FREEMAN)