Bella: Don’t worry about my vacation

Bella Ruby Santos said she plans to take a vacation out of town after selling her residence in Naga City, but reiterated that she would not run away from the criminal charges filed against her in relation to the Feb. 8 kidnap-slay of 6-year-old girl Ellah Joy Pique.

“Wala man ko nagtago. Kon niikyas pa ko, hagbay ra unta. The fact nga niatubang ko, naa ra ko. (I’m not hiding from the authorities. If I wanted to escape, I should have done it before. The fact that I face you means I’m just here),” said Santos, 35, in a GMA-7 Balitang Bisdak interview at her mother’s home in barangay Inayagan, Naga City.

The charges filed by police are still under evaluation by the Cebu provincial prosecutors office. No arrest warrant has been issued against the woman.

Santos said she recently received the proceeds of the sale of her two-story house in Naga that was bought by a businessman for P6 million.

She said her British partner, Ian Charles Griffiths, spent P13 million to build and furnish the house four years ago.

“Gusto ko magmoony-moony, magsuroy-suroy, maglipay (I just want to think things over, travel and enjoy),” she said.

Santos said she would like to go to Boracay, Palawan or Hongkong for a vacation but promised to return to Cebu.

“Dili nako talikdan ang kaso (I won’t run away from the case),” Santos said.

Santos and Griffiths are indicted on charges of kidnapping with homicide for the death of a grade-school pupil who was picked up while walking home from school.

Santos, who denies any role in the crime, joked during the interview that she may get a facelift abroad so the public and police won’t be able to recognize her.

Asked whose features she would like to have, she said “Gwen,” referring to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, whose “heart-shaped face” she said she liked.

“We are both victims here. The real culprits are still roaming out there,” she said.