Viewing of flash disk today

CEBU, Philippines - The viewing of the files in the flash disk and compact disks confiscated from the house of Bella Ruby Santos, one of those accused in the abduction and killing of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, has been set for today.

Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes said the files will be viewed using a laptop issued by the Supreme Court and with the assistance of an Information Technology expert, a clerk of court and a stenographer.

The first scheduled viewing was last April 29, 2011, but it was reset.

Paredes said if the viewing will be reset again then he will finally push through with his plan to get an expert from the National Bureau of Investigation Manila to take a look at the files.

Paredes said he earlier talked to an NBI agent to get an IT expert from Manila but the agent said he has to submit a written letter to NBI Manila and it may take time.

The camp of Santos has already released a statement that they will oppose if the court will get an IT expert from the NBI. The NBI was part of the Task Force Ellah Joy which is investigating the crime.

But Paredes said he trusts the NBI Manila will be neutral.

“I believe the NBI as it is a government agency also,” Paredes said.

Inocencio dela Cerna, the counsel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said he does not mind if the court will get an NBI expert to look at the files as long as protocol will be followed.

Earlier, Santos requested that the viewing of the contents be done only in the presence of the judge, representatives from the CIDG, her camp and the media.

Paredes said his order was clear and for transparency purposes the viewing will be held in open court.

Paredes likewise assured that if the items contain recorded intimate moments between Santos and her partner Ian Charles Griffiths then he will order it stopped and fast forwarded.

Santos and Griffiths were accused of abducting and killing Ellah whose body was dumped in Barili town a day after she was taken coming home from school in Minglanilla town last February. (FREEMAN)