Another 30-day wait for Ella case review

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Provincial Prosecutor Joseph Berciles approved the motion filed by the three-man panel asking 30 days more to resolve the complaints against Bella Ruby Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jose Edwin Renegado, head of the panel with prosecutors Annabelle Robles and Maria Luisa Ong, asked for more days saying they could not meet the 60-day period.

Robles said they will resolve the case on or before June 27.

She said they are still deliberating on the complaint against Santos and Griffiths, who are facing complaints for kidnapping with homicide over the death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

Robles added that one of the reasons in the delay in resolving the complaint was the failure of two respondents to file their counter-affidavit to the perjury case. She already summoned the four respondents who include SPO2 Willard Selibio and PO3 Angelito Yaun of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Santos claimed they lied when they applied for the search warrant.

Robles received the counter-affidavits of Selibio and Yaun but not of the two other respondents.

She said they will resolve the case based on the merit of the evidences. She added they would also consider the previous case involving Sven Erik Berger and Cebuana Karen Esdrelon in resolving the case.

Pique was kidnapped on February 8 outside her school in Calajoan, Minglanilla. Her body was dumped in Barangay Sayaw, Barili. – (FREEMAN)