Anti-graft office to conduct probe on "Bella's spy"

CEBU, Philippines - Obstruction of justice and bribery will be the possible charges against the policeman-spy of Bella Ruby Santos at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Assistant Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago said she will docket the newspaper report on the allegation that a CIDG officer received money from Santos, to the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO).

But Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, head of the Task Force Ellah Joy, said the report may not be true. The CIDG 7 director, meanwhile, insists this is just hearsay.

“This information is just to mislead the investigation,” said Comendador.

For Santiago, however, it would be appropriate for the MOLEO to conduct the fact-finding investigation. She said the MOLEO will verify if it’s true a CIDG member received P20,000 a month from Santos, the accused in the kidnapping with homicide case in relation to the death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

 “Since we were going to Manila, I will docket this newspaper report to the MOLEO for them to investigate,” Santiago said.

Santiago added that the fact-finding will determine who among the CIDG members received money from Santos, if found true. Defense lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo will not comment on the issue.

“No comment for the defense team. That’s their problem whether true or not,” Villagonzalo said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

The CIDG – 7 director said this information is simple hearsay.

Sr. Supt. Jose Pante, CIDG-7 director, said they are undeterred in their search even as rumors circulate that Bella has an emissary within CIDG.

“Sanay na kami sa ganyang intriga, in fact, tuloy parin ang ating manhunt… kanya kanya yang paraan, sa amin, basta nagtratrabaho kami,” he said.

Despite this “minor” setback, Pante assures they are searching for Santos with the help of their other units throughout the country. “We are trying our best na mahuli siya, kay kami ang nag file nang kaso,” he added.

But he admitted they are finding it difficult to apprehend Santos as Santos probably has enough funds after she sold her house in Naga City.

If indeed they will find a spy within their ranks, Pante said, then they will enforce the full force of the law against Santos’ cohorts. 

Pante assured he will direct an investigator to look into the report but said evidence is needed before a formal investigation could be conducted.

The police, in recent reports, claim Santos is still in the country but they could not divulge the details to prevent jeopardizing their operations.

As for Comendador, he said he had no knowledge about the circulated information, which he said could probably come from “misinterpreted facts.”

He added that the said report is only among the many side issues they encountered in their more than two months of tracking Santos, who has a pending warrant of arrest.

Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths were suspects of the kidnap-slay of Pique last February in Minglanilla town.

Comendador said they will no longer give much importance on the side issues but instead intensify their manhunt operation.

“We do not want to be distracted by side issues ang amo nga unta mahuman na ni ug madakpan na siya,” he said.

Santos, as claimed by the newspaper report, would always slip away before the task force arrives to arrest her because she was being tipped by a spy, who is an agent of the CIDG.

Renante Pique, father of Ella Joy, met their legal counsel, lawyer Joan Saniel of the Children’s Legal Bureau yesterday and asked for an advice after learning of the report.

He was then advised to meet Comendador to clarify things but Comendador was in northern Cebu so Renante is set to meet the police official today instead.  (FREEMAN)