Pique seeks CIDG help to identify attacker

CEBU, Philippines -  The father of the kidnap-slay victim Ellah Joy Pique and his lawyer yesterday appeared at the office of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-7) to seek the agency’s help in identifying the man who allegedly tried to stab him outside the Palace of Justice last Monday.

Renante Pique, accompanied by his lawyer Ino-cencio Dela Cerna, said they are seeking CIDG’s help to identify the man whom he suspected to be the brother of Bella Ruby Santos, the one accused for killing his six-year-old daughter.

“Pirmiro gi-text ko na brother daw ‘to ni Santos. Wa ko nituo. Then napun-an ang info kay ang akong misis didto sa market. Daghan man gud mga par-yente diha si Bella Ruby na gitawag g’yud siya unsa’y nahitabo. Niingon sila na igsoon gyud to ni Bella Ruby,” said Pique. (At first I did not believe the text message telling us it was Santos’ brother. But a lot of people insisted to my wife that it was really the brother of Santos.)

Renante recalled that he was with his wife Ligaya and her mother when he saw a man bringing a barbeque stick attempting to stab him.

“Akong giingnan ‘sige, dunggaba para mahuman na ni.’ Unya ningdagan,” said the elder Pique. (I told him, okay why don’t you just stab me so this will all be over. But he ran.)

Prior to this incident, Renante said the same man, who was apparently restless, was reprimanded by a judge to sit down. He said the man brought a barbeque stick covered with a cloth.

“Ngano ila man gyud kong personalon na hustisya ra man ning among gipangayo. Sige ma’g yawyaw atong higayona na pataka daw ko og papriso. Maayo nang ma-trace gyud nato unsa iyang katuyoan, posible na papasakaan gyud siya og kaso,” Pique said. (I don’t know why they are doing this when I am only seeking justice for my daughter. He kept on saying that I put the wrong suspect in jail. I want to get to the bottom of this and possibly file charges.)

His lawyer, Dela Cerna,  said the man should be identified first by CIDG-7 investigators before they take any legal action.

“We will not take the law into our hands, and the reasons why we are here is to ask the CIDG-7 to further investigate and to identify the raw information given,” said Dela Cerna.

If the suspect will refuse to appear at CIDG-7 for investigation, Dela Cerna said they might file charges against him.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, the lawyer said, has also assured the security of Pique and his family.

“But now, we’ll be requesting more serious security in going to and coming from the court house,” the lawyer further said.

Senior Supt. Eddie Benigay, the newly appointed chief of CIDG 7, said they will call the attention of the said man, whose face was captured by a tabloid photographer.

“I-post nato ang iyang nawng para makatabang sad ang community sa pag-identify niya,” said Benigay. (We’ll ask help from the community in identifying him.)

The CIDG 7 chief also cautioned Pique and his family to take extra care following this threat.

“I told him ayaw kum-piyansa dong.Kung  mupaghot ang iro sa imong tugkaran, mata g’yud kay naa g’yud na’y tawo,” said Benigay. (I told him to take extra precautions.)  (FREEMAN)