CEBU, Philippines - Authorities are challenging kidnapping suspect Bella Ruby Santos to resurface and face the media anew to prove that she is not running away from an impending warrant of arrest against her.
“Dapat siya mopakita siya sa media aron mapamatud-an nga dili siya modagan sa balaod otherwise, sad-an siya,” said Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, head of Task Force Ellah Joy.
Santos and her partner, British National Ian Charles Griffiths, are facing kidnapping with homicide charges for the kidnapping and death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique. The child was abducted outside her school in Calajoan, Minglanilla and was later found dead in neighboring Barili.
Santos has consistently faced the media for interviews since the time she and Griffiths were tagged as suspects about three months ago, but she suddenly withdrew from the limelight middle of June. She reportedly changed her mobile phone number just after selling some of her properties in Inayagan, Naga. This time, only her lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo is entertaining questions from the press.
Rameses said they are now finalizing their petition for the Department of Justice to review the ruling of provincial prosecutors indicting his clients to the charges. He said they believe even “rehash” arguments can prove the innocence of his clients.
“Even if the prosecution will say, it was rehash evidence, but this is our stand because of the questionable witnesses of the prosecution,” Villagonzalo said. He said they will repeatedly tackle the issue of credibility of the witnesses of the prosecution until their arguments are considered.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 earlier asked for the special raffling of the case to expedite the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Santos and Griffiths, but the motion was denied by acting Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo.
The case is scheduled for raffle on Monday. — (FREEMAN)