Court wraps up bail hearing in Pique kidnap-slay

CEBU, Philippines - The prosecution panel yesterday concluded its argument opposing the motion for bail filed by Bella Ruby Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths who were accused in the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique in February last year.

The panel led by assistant provincial prosecutor Petronio Elesterio presented Special Investigator Arnel Pura of the National Bureau of Investigation as its last witness against the accused’s bid to post bail.

 Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso has ordered the prosecution to make the formal offer of exhibits within 15 days from yesterday. The defense is likewise given five days to comment.

Each party was directed to submit their respective memorandum afterwards for the court to dispose of the petition for bail.

Pura, who arrested Santos in Manila, told the court that the accused tried to keep her identity from them. According to Pura, he was in Manila to follow up another case when he got a call from the NBI regional office in Central Visayas informing him of Santos’ whereabouts.

Pura said that he was in the vicinity of a mall in Pasig City when he got a tip from Supervising Agent Rennan Oliva of how the accused look like. He admitted having no personal knowledge as to the physical appearance of the accused.

Pura said that he saw a woman at a clothing store which resembles the description given to him by Oliva prompting him to approach the woman and asked for her identity.

The woman initially claimed to be a certain Lara Ebba Gonzales. Suspicious of the identity given by the woman, Pura said, he requested the assistance of the mall security and held her for further questioning.

It was later in the interrogation that the woman was forced to admit that she was Santos. Pura said Santos disguised herself when she was arrested.

Pura admitted that the NBI did not conduct a parallel investigation against Santos and Griffiths. The NBI however investigated on the case of the first suspects, Karen Esdrelon and Sven Erik Berger, who were mistakenly accused of the crime.

Esdrelon and Berger were later exonerated from the case by the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Reynante Pique, victim’s father, said that Santos’ attempt to hide her identity was a sign of guilt.

Defense counsel Julius Caesar Entice however claimed that it was an  “initial reaction” and should not be misconstrued as a sign of guilt.— (FREEMAN)