Warden denies giving Santos phone perks

CEBU, Philippines - Naga City Jail Warden Sr. Insp. Jenesis Mongcopa challenged those people spreading reports that Bella Ruby Santos was allowed to use her cellphone while in jail to file a complaint against him as he denied the allegations.

Santos is one of the accused for the kidnap-slay of six year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

“We strictly implement the rules and regulations inside the jail. We do not allow it here, I know there’s a motive behind such reports but I don’t know what in particular,” Mongcopa said.

He said the allegations that they allow Santos to use her cell phone and other amenities have no basis. “Let them produce the evidence and file a complaint against me,” Mongcopa said.

He confirmed that he also received a text message about the allegations that Santos used her cell phone while in jail but he never gave it importance because he knows he did not violate any rules.

Santos and her British boyfriend face charges before Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6 for kidnapping with homicide.

The charges were vehemently denied by the accused claiming they were innocent of the crime.

Santos, earlier pleaded not guilty to the crime. She is currently detained at the Naga City Jail while the Department of Justice (DOJ) is also working on the extradition of Griffiths from the United Kingdom (UK) to the Philippines.

Pique was kidnapped on February 8, 2011 while on her way home from school. She was found dead the following day in Barili town.

Meanwhile, the counsels of Santos and Griffiths are now asking the police what action they are taking to identify the persons who reportedly want to harm Santos.

They likewise asked Renante Pique, father of the victim, to divulge information to the police and tell them who approached him and allegedly asked for his consent to kill Santos.

“Those involved should be unmasked and arrested; otherwise, this is just one of the countless black propaganda employed by the task force in order to gain public sympathy and advance trial by publicity due to the miserable weakness of the people’s case,” the defense team said. (FREEMAN)