Lawyers won't contest decision

CEBU, Philippines - The public prosecutors have no plan to file a motion for reconsideration after Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6 denied their move for the use of a live-link television for the minors.

Earlier, Prosecutors Petronio Elesterio, Annabelle Robles and Jerome Abarca filed a motion to allow the use of live-link television to prevent minor witnesses from experiencing trauma, but this was denied by the court.

Prosecutor Elesterio told The FREEMAN that they will not file a motion for reconsideration because they have no time to do so.

“Wala nay oras unya magstart na ang trial on Tuesday (We have no time because the trial will start on Tuesday), said Elesterio.

Elesterio said that on Tuesday, they will present the minor witnesses during the hearing of the petition to allow accused Bella Ruby Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths to post bail.

Elesterio disclosed that the witnesses will testify inside the chamber. The family court has a rule that minor witnesses will not be presented in open court.

Earlier, Veloso denied the request of the prosecution lawyers saying she will not allow any harassment towards the witnesses, minors and adults alike.

Veloso also added that Branch 6 is not equipped with live-link television facilities.

Meanwhile, the counsels of Santos and Griffiths said the accusation that Santos was allowed to use a mobile phone while inside the jail is “completely without foundation in fact.”

“The defense team confirms that the warden is behaving properly in discharging his duties and that our client, Bella Santos, is being treated in the same way as all his other prisoners and in full accordance with the law. She has not and does not receive any special treatment or privileges,” they said.

The defense team said that instead of raising issues, the prosecution or the task force better concentrate on their preparations for the trial.

Santos and Griffiths are facing charges for the kidnapping and killing of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last February.

Pique was last seen going home after her afternoon classes in her school in Minglanilla. Her dead body was discovered at a cliff in Barili.

Santos was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation while she was shopping in a mall in Manila. Griffiths, meanwhile, was able to fly to the United Kingdom and remains at large.

The British Government had assured Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to help in locating Griffiths.  (FREEMAN)