Pique case Witness protection only until this month

CEBU, Philippines - The provisional protection of two vital witnesses in the kidnapping with homicide case against Bella Ruby Santos and her boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths is almost over.

State prosecutor Llena Avila said the provisional protection normally lasts three months. However, she said they are waiting for the final decision of the Department of Justice Central Office in Manila on the application of both witnesses, who are minors.

“We will wait for the decision of the Central Office if they will approve or deny the application,” Avila said.

She said before the provisional witness protection ends, they usually receive the decision ahead of time.

The witnesses were placed under protection last October.

Avila said if the Central Office will deny the application of the witnesses, she will automatically terminate the provisional protection of the two.

She said for the meantime the two witnesses and their families are fine inside the DOJ safe house.

“They celebrated the Christmas and New Year inside the safe house and they’re fine, look good and improved,” she said.

She added while inside the safe house the two witnesses, who are students, continue their studies in cooperation with the Department of Education.

Earlier, the DOJ placed two witnesses under provisional protection after the prosecution applied.

Reportedly, the police said that some of the witnesses against Santos and Griffiths have been offered cash to withdraw their testimony.

One of the members of the Task Force Ellah Joy, who requested anonymity, even admitted that one of their witnesses is showing reluctance.

However, defense counsel Rameses Villagonzalo denied reports that his clients are trying to bribe the prosecution witnesses.

Avila said the provisional protection is automatically given in their level but their central office has to decide whether or not to place witnesses in permanent protection until the case will be terminated.

Santos and Griffiths were charged for kidnapping with homicide over the death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique who was abducted in Minglanilla town February last year.

Pique was abducted on the afternoon of Feb. 8 on her way home from school in Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla. The following day she was found dumped in Barili town. – (FREEMAN)