After arrest in Manila: Bella Ruby due in Cebu this pm

CEBU, Philippines - Bella Ruby Santos, who is accused for kidnapping with homicide, is due back in Cebu late this afternoon after her arrest in Manila last Friday.

She will be brought here by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents Arnel Pura and lawyer Lauro Reyes, who were the ones who arrested her inside a mall in Metro Manila.

Pura said that since they are scheduled to arrive late afternoon today, they will commit Santos in court tomorrow before Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6.

As a procedure, the accused has to be presented in court for the commitment order. It will be the presiding judge, who decides where the accused will be detained.

Earlier, the family of Santos asked that she not be detained at Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), but in the Naga City Jail.

Santos and her British National boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths were tagged as suspects for the death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

Pique was abducted while she was in her way home from Calajoan Elementary School last February 8 and found dead the following day in Barili town.

Santos, a resident of Barangay Inayagan, Naga City was arrested by Pura last Friday afternoon in a mall in Ortigas, Manila after his colleague lawyer Reynan Oliva contacted him.

“Since I am near in the area, I was able to arrest Santos,” Pura told The Freeman.

Pura added Santos is currently detained at NBI Central Office.

“I was not able to see Santos as we turned over her to the jail guard but she was okay,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, counsel of Santos, said they will file today a petition for bail and motion for reconsideration for the omnibus motion they filed before Judge Veloso.

Villagonzalo questioned the decision of Veloso declaring their omnibus motion “moot and academic.”

“We are not satisfied with the ruling because it did not treat the merits of our motion,” Villagonzalo told The Freeman.

He said they received the resolution of their omnibus motion last Wednesday.

The omnibus motion was filed by the defense for the determination of the probable cause in the resolution penned of the three-man panel as they claimed there was no probable cause.

The panel composed of prosecutors Anabelle Robles, Jose Edwin Renegado and Maria Luisa Ong believes that there are sufficient grounds to hold the accused for trial over the death of Pique based on the evidences presented by the complainant.

Villagonzalo likewise said they will be filing a petition for bail.

He said they believe that the people’s case is very weak due to “zero evidence.”

Veloso issued the warrant of arrest against Griffiths and Santos last July 12.

Reactions

Perla Erejano, mother of Santos, said she was worried when she heard the voice of her daughter telling her not to worry.

Renante Pique, father of the victim, said his prayers were heard. He said every time he visits the grave of his daughter he always prayed for the arrest Santos.

He added today, he will visit Task Force Ellah Joy head Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador to personally say “thank you” for the support.

   He is also set to visit the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) and the NBI-7 to also thank them.

Renante said he is grateful that Santos has at last been arrested.

“Dako kay kog pasalamat sa NBI kay gibuhat nila ilang responsibilidad sa pagdakop ni Santos, since start nakamatikud dayon sila nga sayup ang unang suspects (I am very thankful to the NBI for doing their job and responsibility that lead to the arrest of Santos, since start they noticed that the first suspects were not the offender).—/NLQ (FREEMAN)