Bella Ruby scores first win Fiscal junks porno complaint vs Santos

CEBU, Philippines - The Naga City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the complaint filed by the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) against Bella Ruby Santos, one of the accused in the kidnap-slay of six-year-old girl Ellah Joy Pique.

City Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo said the compact disc covers with naked pictures of minors seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from Santos’ house were inadmissible as evidence.

Alburo told The FREEMAN that the search warrant applied by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was for kidnapping with homicide and not for anti-pornography.

He said that even if he will elevate the case to court, the judge will probably dismiss it.

“Even if I file (the case before the court), it is dismissible in court, kami puy maulawan (we will be embarrassed),” Alburo said.

He explained that the law cited by CLB as basis in filing the anti-pornography charges did not match with the case.

“They cited Section 4, Paragraph 8 of Republic Act 9775, otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act, or the distribution of pornographic materials,” Alburo said.

But Santos, he said, did not distribute any of the pornographic CD covers.

On July 28, the CLB filed criminal complaint against Santos before Naga City Prosecutor’s Office for child pornography.

The empty covers of pornographic CDs were recovered by police from Santos’ house in Barangay Inayagan, Naga City on March 4. -/LPM (FREEMAN)