NBI-7 gets praise, building from Capitol
A COMMENDATION and a new building were received by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) from the Capitol in separate instances yesterday.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia praised the NBI-7 for the Oct. 7 arrest of homicide suspect Bella Ruby Santos in a mall in Mandaluyong City, Manila.
She later signed an agreement with NBI-7 director Edward Villarata for the construction of the agency’s building in sitio Sudlon, barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
“We give credit where credit is due. We commend the men and women for the effort, sacrifice, heroism, and their achievement,” Garcia said during yesterday morning’s award rites at the Capitol conference room.
Construction will start next month and is expected to be finished in six months.
Under the agreement, the province will cover the cost of construction while NBI will provide its own facilities.
“Cebu shall sound off this signal that over here we recognize the NBI’s vital role … we expect our men and women tasked to maintain peace and order to do their jobs regardless of the risks,” Garcia said.
An informant tipped off the NBI-7 on the whereabouts of the 35-year-old Santos who proved elusive after an arrest warrant was issued against her last July.
The Capitol has yet to release the P360,000 reward money to the tipster whose identity remains confidential.
Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths face charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to Ellah Joy Pique’s death last Feb. 8.
Griffiths is presently listed in the Interpol’s Red Notice list as “fugitive wanted for prosecution.”
Two of six witnesses against Santos and Griffiths were given “provisional coverage” before their application for the witness protection program of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Asst. Regional Prosecutor Llena Ipong-Avila, program implementor, said this meant that the two witnesses will be secured for three months while waiting for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s approval of their admission to the program.
One of the witnesses claimed being offered P500,000 to recant statements earlier made against Santos and Griffiths.
Santos’ lawyers asked the court to grant her bail while she awaits trial. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Patricia Andrea Pateña
