Bella won’t yield yet says kin

THE arrest warrant was issued by the court last week, but kidnap-homicide suspect Bella Ruby Santos isn’t ready to surrender yet.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) said “backdoor negotiations” with the family and relatives of Santos  stalled.

Kinsmen dropped their previous assurance that she would surrender herself to the police.

They were reportedly discussing options of where Bella would be detained if no bail is granted.   Kinsmen were hoping the Naga City jail would be the site, and not the Cebu provincial jail in Cebu City.

They also earlier mentioned having Santos surrender only to the Naga City mayor or Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“We were considering their offers to show proof that we are in good faith (to take custody of her). However, we received reports that Bella would no longer surrender,” CIDG-7 lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said.

Dela Cerna said Santos chose to wait for the Department of Justice to resolve a  petition for review filed by her lawyers two weeks ago.

The DOJ has 60 days to resolve Santos’ petition that sought a reversal of a ruling by the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office, which found probable cause of guilty  and indicted her and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths on charges of kidnapping with homicide.

Even if Santos secures a favorable ruling from the DOJ, the court still has to decide whether to adopt the resolution.

“The CIDG has continued its intensive manhunt against Santos,” Dela Cerna said.

Santos’ family and relatives said they preferred Santos to surrender either to Binay or City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong.

They said they couldn’t trust any law enforcement agency for fear of reprisal.

Dela Cerna said the family’s fears were unfounded and assured them that she would not be harmed.

“We urge the public to inform us should they have information about Santos’ (location),” Dela Cerna said.

Santos and Griffiths were issued arrest warrants by Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6.

The couple are indicted on charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the death of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last Feb. 8.

A private citizen offered a P100,000 reward for information on Santos’ whereabouts.

Posters with photos of Santos were circulated by the police and put in public places.

Griffiths has been monitored by authorities in the United Kingdom after he was arrested in April in relation to the Ellah Joy case.

UK law allowed him to post bail after sleeping two nights in jail.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, said he hopes that Santos will surrender to help reduce the  penalties. He said the latest information police  received was that Santos is hiding in Western Visayas or Davao City.

Comedador  said they already sent the arrest warrant for  Griffiths to PNP Manila, which would send to  the International Police (Interpol).