Lead counsel ready to withdraw from Ellah Joy slay case

THE lead counsel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) is ready to prosecute Bella Ruby Santos and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths.

But CIDG-7 lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said he may decide to withdraw from handling the case if the father of the slain 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique wouldn’t allow him to be part of the private prosecutors.

“It will be Ellah Joy’s father who will eventualy decide who to retain as counsel to prosecute the case. I think he has decided that the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) will handle the prosecution. If that is the case I will graciously fade away knowing that in my own little way I had helped in solving the unfortunate death of Ellah Joy,” Dela Cerna said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

In an earlier interview, Ellah Joy’s father Renante said they would retain the services of CLB lawyers who manifested willingness to assist them.

Dela Cerna has been battling against Santos and Griffiths during the evidentiary proceedings before Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes and the filing of the complaint at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.

In an event that Renante would decide to likewise avail the services of the CIDG-7 counsel, Dela Cerna said he would be willing to collaborate with the CLB.

The Task Force Ellah Joy is monitoring the whereabouts of Santos so it would be easy for them to arrest the respondent once a warrant of arrest will be issued by the court.

Santos and Griffiths were indicted on charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the death of Ellah Joy last Feb. 8. The counsel of the respondents will be filing a motion for reconsideration within the week.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo said Santos will join them in filing the pleading to show to the public that she isn’t hiding.  Santos said she was willing to surrender once an arrest warrant is issued against her.

On the other hand, Griffiths has been monitored by British officials after he was arrested in relation to Ellah Joy’s death.

Last April, Griffiths slept for two nights in jail before he was allowed to post bail. He was prohibited from talking to other persons except for his lawyers.

The task force wants Griffiths to be brought back to the country.

They are still studying their options since the UK and the Philippines have no extradiction treaty./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL