Ellah Joy case: Capitol denies hand in foreign suspect's arrest

CEBU, Philippines - The office of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia denied reports that the Cebu Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Criminality had a hand in the arrest of British national Ian Charles Griffiths in London even if there is no formal case against him in court.

Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said it is impossible for the task force to make representations before the British government for the arrest of Griffiths, who is facing criminal complaints for kidnapping with homicide before the prosecutor’s office together with his Cebuana girlfriend Ruby Bella Santos over the death of Ellah Joy Pique, because government-to-government request can only be done by the President of the country.

“Di pa pud tawn presidente ang gobernador, pero pilay pa’d,” Sepulveda told reporters.

Griffiths was arrested during a raid in his properties at Southampton, United Kingdom. The arrest was done in connection with his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Pique.

Lawyer Ana Luz Cristal who confirmed the arrest of her client last Saturday believes that it was influenced by the task force created by Garcia.

Should the insinuation of Cristal is true, Sepulveda said it is too much pride for the governor and they would not deny it.

Cristal said the task force may have sought the assistance of the authorities in UK to hold Griffiths. Under their law, each citizen of their country who is facing criminal complaints abroad can be arrested.

The arrest surprised acting provincial police director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr. who confirmed their plans to seek the assistance of the Interpol to locate and arrest Griffiths as soon as the case is filed in court and a warrant of arrest is issued against him.

Comendador admitted that Griffiths’ arrest is an advantage for them because they would not have a hard time looking for him. He said all they have to do is coordinate with the government of UK to bring him here in the Philippines.

Cristal admitted that her client can be extradited if there is a warrant of arrest against him. She said the Philippines and the United Kingdom has an existing extradition treaty.

Cristal however believes that it will not be too soon for Griffiths to be extradited in the Philippines because there is no case in court yet. Besides Cristal said he still has a case to face in UK. — (FREEMAN)