CPPO giving Pique escorts

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador will be providing two police escorts to Reynante Pique, father of kidnap-slay victim Ellah Joy Pique, during and after court hearings of the case regarding his daughter.

This after Pique was allegedly almost stabbed with a barbecue stick by one of the supporters of Bella Ruby Santos, one of the suspects in the case, after the hearing at the sala of Judge Ester Veloso last Monday morning.

Comendador said that right after the incident Pique went to his office and asked for security which he also assured as long as Pique provides him the time and dates of the scheduled hearings.

Comendador added he can only provide two police escorts since there are also policemen assigned at the Capitol who can secure Pique during the hearing.

"It's a matter of coordination kay naa na ma'y police sa Capitol," Comendador said.

He added that Pique feared for his life as he was serious in pursuing the case against Santos.

"Siya man gyud ang nangusog aning kasuha of course as the father unya init kaayo siya sa pikas," Comendador said.

Comendador, however, guaranteed to assess until when Pique needs police escorts or if there is a need to add security personnel.

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul, committee chairman on security at the Palace of Justice, said he cannot blame the security guards detailed in the main entrance of the building if they failed to intervene in the incident.

Hadjirasul said it is difficult for the guards to leave their post and attend to the incident because they lack security personnel. The court has no roving security guards.

Pique said he will meet Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba and Children's Legal Bureau lawyers to discuss the incident and their plans.

The incident happened last Monday after the supporters of Santos and the family of Pique attended the supposed pre-trial of the main case for kidnapping with homicide. However, the pre-trial was reset after the prosecution said it was not yet ready.

The supporters of Santos blamed the Pique family for the arrest and detention of Santos.

Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths --who remains at large-- were suspected behind the kidnap and killing of six-year old girl, Ellah Joy last February 8, 2011.  Her body was found the following day in Barili town.  — (FREEMAN)