Pa: Ellah’s slay roused gov’t agencies to action

The pain never goes away for the Pique family, whose 6-year-old daughter Ellah Joy was kidnapped and found dead in a cliff overlooking a beach in Barili town exactly one year ago yesterday.

But Ellah’s father, Renante Pique, is consoled with the thought that the search for justice has roused national and local government agencies to action.

“The eyes of many government agencies have been opened after the death of my daughter. However, the realization came in a painful way,” Renante told Cebu Daily News in Cebuano yesterday.

The Pique family yesterday gathered before an altar inside their home in Minglanilla town, Cebu, to pray for the eternal repose of the slain Ellah Joy.

Renante, his wife Ligaya, and some relatives prayed for Ellah Joy in front of an altar where a photo of Ellah Joy was placed.

Yesterday marked the first death anniversary of Ellah Joy who was kidnapped outside the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town last Feb. 8, 2011.

Her body was found off a ravine in Barili town, south Cebu, the following day.

Renante is set to visit today the site where his daughter’s remains was found.

He said there were people who considered 6-year-old Ellah Joy a “hero” since the girl’s death prompted local government units to intensify their campaign against pornography. Ellah Joy was believed to have been a victim of a cyberpornography ring.

Bella Ruby Santos, a Cebuana, and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths were pointed out by witnesses as being allegedly responsible for kidnapping Ellah Joy.

Santos and Griffiths are facing charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the death of Ellah Joy. Santos was arrested in a mall in Metro Manila in October last year.

Griffiths, a 51-year-old accountant, on the other hand, is believed to be in the United Kingdom and is on the “red alert list” of the Interpol as a fugitive wanted for prosecution in the Philippines.

“I hope the government agencies won’t stop their campaign against child pornography. I hope all children will be protected,” Renante said.