Child advocates sue Bella for flouting anti-porn law

BELLA Ruby Santos has another burden to carry.

The Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) yesterday filed additional charges against Santos for allegedly violating Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

CLB lawyer Joan Saniel-Amit said the complaint stemmed from the discovery of empty porn CD covers in Santos’ house in barangay Inayagan, Naga City.

The complaint was filed with the Naga City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday afternoon.

Saniel said Santos’ British partner Ian Charles Griffiths isn’t impleaded since the pornographic items were recovered in Santos’ home.

Santos and Griffiths are facing charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the abduction and killing of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last Feb. 8.

Santos’ lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo and CLB lawyers will face-off in court today as defense lawyers contest the issuance of an arrest warrant against Santos and Griffiths.

The hearing is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. before Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6.

Judge Veloso issued an arrest warrant against the accused last July 12. But their lawyers said the judge should consider their claims in a motion for the determination of probable cause. Santos and Griffiths remain at large.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, lead counsel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas and Task Force Ellah Joy, yesterday threatened to sue for obstruction of justice persons who mislead law enforcers regarding the defendants’ whereabouts.