Reports say Santos tried suicide twice

CEBU, Philippines - Inayagan, Naga barangay captain Narciso Tablate alleged that Bella Ruby Santos attempted suicide twice after she began to be linked to the Pique kidnapping with homicide case last April.

Quoting a friend of Santos he declined to name, Tablate said that shame brought by the current situation prompted Santos to try ending her life. However, Tablate refused to detail how Santos tried.

“Hinuon wala ko magsunod kanunay sa ilang mga lihok pero kung siya man gani salamat kay masulbad ang kaso, apan kung dili, luoy pud kaayo siya,” Tablate said.

In 2008, reports reached Tablate that homosexuals were coming to her house allegedly for cybersex but these reports were not confirmed.

Marion Lalikan, 40, the elder sister of Santos, denied allegations that her younger sister underwent reconstructive surgery to be able to hide from the law.

She also said that Santos’s house has not yet been sold, however, she borrowed a huge amount of cash and used the house as collateral.

Lalikan admitted that Santos left on July 10 and their last communication was on July 11.

“Iyang ingon nga atubangon niya ang problema apan posibleng naghuwat lang siya sa resulta sa petisyon ngadto sa Department of Justice sa pag-review sa kaso niini,” she said.

Meanwhile, Task Force Ellah Joy welcomed donations from concerned citizens to be used as reward for informants in the case but said they still have to evaluate the background of the person first before receiving it.

Six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique was found dead a day after she was abducted in Minglanilla town last February. (FREEMAN)