Court: View flash drive

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court (RTC) granted the motion filed by the camp of  Renante Pique to view the flash drive seized from the residence of suspect Bella Ruby Santos.

Pique is the father of a six-year-old Ella Joy, who was kidnapped and then killed two years ago.

Lawyer Rameses Victorious Villagonzalo, one of Santos’ legal counsels, told The FREEMAN that Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6 Judge Ester Veloso granted Pique’s in yesterday’s hearing for the kidnapping with homicide case Santos is facing.

“The viewing of the flash drive will be on March 17, 2014 at 2 p.m.,” said Villagonzalo, who added that they already filed an opposition to the viewing of the flash driver as it is just “a waste of time.”

He said the flash drive, allegedly owned by Santos, has already been examined and viewed by the contending parties during the hearing of the motion to quash the search warrant RTC Branch 13 issued.

Villagonzalo said that after almost six months since the last hearing, yesterday was supposed to be the presentation of two more prosecution witnesses against his client, but the no one was presented.

State Prosecutor Jerome Abarca told the court that instead of the witnesses, they would request for the viewing of the flash drive, which was one of  the items seized from the house of  Santos in Inayagan, City of  Naga City during the implementation of  a search warrant in March 2011.

Villagonzalo said that once the prosecution would rest its case, they would probably file a demurrer of evidence, seeking for the dismissal of the case.

Santos and her boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths, who is at large, were accused of  kidnapping and killing Ellah Joy in 2011.

Ellah Joy was on her way home from Calajoan Elementary School when she was kidnapped on Feb. 8. The following day, she was found lifeless in Barili town. (FREEMAN)