Policeman witness a no-show in court

CEBU, Philippines - For his failure to appear in court and give testimony during a scheduled cross-examination yesterday, Senior Insp. Oliver Lariosa of the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 is now facing contempt of court.

Rameses Villagonzalo, defense counsel of the suspect in the Ellah Joy Pique kidnapping with homicide case, told The FREEMAN that Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court Branch 6 directed Lariosa to explain why he should not be cited for contempt.

“Lariosa was given three days upon receipt of the order to explain in writing why he should not be cited into contempt,” he said.

Before the trial started, Villagonzalo said state prosecutor Jerome Abarca told the court that their witness, Lariosa, was not available for cross-examination because he was in Manila.

However, Villagonzalo said Lariosa must show proof.

“We want proof, maybe a ticket will do,” he said.

Villagonzalo added they wanted Lariosa to explain why he was unable to appear in court yesterday considering the cross-examination was already scheduled.

No reason was stated why Lariosa was in Manila.

During his direct examination last July 22, 2013, Lariosa affirmed the evidence recovered from the crime scene and from the house of suspect Bella Ruby Santos.

Santos is accused in the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique in 2011. Her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths is also facing the same charges.

Lariosa was part of the Scene of the Crime Operations team that conducted an inspection in Barili town where the body of Ellah Joy was recovered. He was also present during the implementation of the search warrant in the Bella Ruby’s house in Inayagan, Naga City on March 4, 2011.

Ellah Joy was kidnapped last Feb. 8, 2011 while on her way home from the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town. The following day, she was found dead in Barili town. She was believed to have been a victim of a cyber pornography operation.

The next scheduled hearing is set for Sept. 2, 2013. (FREEMAN)