Kidnap-slay suspects question credibility of police witnesses

CEBU, Philippines - Kidnap-slay suspects Bella Ruby Santos and Ian Charles Griffiths are questioning the credibility of two prosecution witnesses, particularly the time within which the witnesses issued their affidavits.

In a motion to resolve case for dismissal filed by the couple’s lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, the couple questioned why the witnesses, both minors, issued their affidavits only two months after the kidnapping and killing of Ellah Joy Pique.

Santos and Griffiths are facing charges for kidnapping and homicide as suspects in Pique’s death.

“Why (did) the two new witnesses only revealed this time? Why not before?” Villagonzalo told reporters.

Villagonzalo argued that the first three witnesses who executed affidavits against the previous suspects, Sven Erik Berger and Karen Esdrelon, never mentioned the names of the two new witnesses who were reportedly with Pique at that time the child was kidnapped. 

Berger and Esdrelon were eventually cleared from charges for lack of sufficient proof.

Villagonzalo said it should be noted that his clients never tried to evade the authorities. In fact, they still returned to Cebu after their house was raided. He said further that Santos could have cut or died her hair if only to change her identity, but she did not do so because they never thought of going away.

“These allegations are all lies as Griffiths and Santos are concerned…because they are innocent as they have nothing to do with kidnapping and killing of Ellah Joy,” Villagonzalo said.

In the motion filed before the prosecutor’s office, the couple alleged that the two new witnesses have been placed by the police as a “scenario-technique” to justify the case.

They also questioned why, despite the absence of any threat to their lives, the other witnesses, including Josito Perez, SPO2 Marcelo Quevedo, Wilma Oralde, SOCO operatives, Leopoldo Mil and Mel Bryan Natad only executed affidavits more than a month after Ellah Joy was abducted and killed.

Villagonzalo pointed out further that the eye-witnesses of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group (CIDG) had different versions as regards the time of the incident. Some said it happened at 3pm while others said it happened an hour later.

In a text message to The FREEMAN, lawyer Inocensio dela Cerna, the counsel of CIDG, said, “on the contrary, the CIDG has submitted affidavits of witnesses who clearly directly and positively identified Santos and Griffiths as the persons responsible for the abduction of Ellah Joy. With that the task force is confident that the panel of prosecutors will find probable cause for filing the case.” (FREEMAN)