CPPO ends fund raising; P50k target for Ellah Joy reached

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office ended their fund raising after reaching their target amount of P50,000 for the arrest of Bella Ruby Santos, the suspect in the kidnap-slay of Ellah Joy Pique.

CPPO Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Commendador revealed they ended their fund raising last Friday after reaching their target amount.

Comendador who also heads Task Force Ellah Joy said they have been receiving information since last week but are limiting the disclosure of details to the media since the arrest of the suspect is their primary concern.

“The information serves as our lead to arrest Santos nga maoy tumong sa reward,” he said.

 Both the information and the informant will be evaluated before the award will be given.

 “We want this case solved na pud kay medyo taud-taud na ni,” Comendador said.

Aside from the PNP, the friends of British national Ian Charles Griffiths were also raising funds for the case. Griffiths is Bella’s boyfriend & her co-accused in the kidnapping with homicide case.

The funds will be given to whoever can provide information that would lead to the arrest of the “true culprits”.

Recently, lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, counsel of Santos, said Griffiths’ friends have raised a total of P101,680.92 from July 29 to August 8. Villagonzalo said giving reward money is not to disturb the case but to prove that his clients are just mistakenly identified as suspects.

However, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group lawyer Inocencio de la Cerna claimed that the move of the opponent was to muddle the case saying, that Task Force Ellah Joy is optimistic they can arrest Santos.

Ellah Joy was kidnapped last February 8 while walking home from Calajo-an Elementary School. She was found dead the next day at a secluded area in Barili town. —(FREEMAN)