Pajero similar to Bella's Task Force Ellah Joy validates another attempted abduction

CEBU, Philippines -  After yesterday’s filing of the case for Anti-Child Pornography against Bella Ruby Santos, the Task Force Ellah Joy will now start the validation of another case for attempted abduction.

If claims are true, a minor from Naga town was almost kidnapped by people on board a Pajero about 30 minutes before Ellah Joy was kidnapped in Minglanilla.

The child in Naga resisted and was able to escape.

Follow-up operations by the police showed that the Pajero in the Naga case matches that of Santos’ because of the damage in its canopy.

Comendador said they already have witnesses but they still need to validate some information and confer with their lawyers.

The warrant of arrest against Santos on the Ellah Joy case, which expired yesterday, was returned to the court for the issuance of an alias warrant of arrest.

Comendador admitted that what they are handling now is a complicated case and they could not rush things.

“We are dealing with a person here who is not about to surrender,” he said.

But he already considers victory the filing of the case and the issuance of the warrant.

Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation and Detective Group (CIDG) lawyers Inocencio dela Cerna, Glenn Condor and Hazan Bargamento opposed the petition for review filed by Santos through lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo.

Dela Cerna said they still have jurisdiction in filing the opposition, with the approval of the three-man panel who found probable cause to elevate the complaints to the court against Santos and her boyfriend British National Ian Charles Griffiths, as it was part of the preliminary investigation.

The CIDG counsels said they oppose the grounds of the defense in filing the petition.

Dela Cerna said Griffiths was not denied due process as he was subpoenaed in his last known address in the Philippines.

“Griffiths was subpoenaed in Barangay Inayagan, Naga City as it was his last known address and in fact the crime was committed here in the Philippines,” he said.

Dela Cerna added that the issue of the credibility of witnesses of the prosecution is best tackled in court and not in the prosecutor’s level.

Villagonzalo filed a petition for review before the Department of Justice asking for the reversal of the ruling of the panel. He insists his clients are innocent and Griffiths was denied due process as he was not subpoenaed in United Kingdom. — (FREEMAN)