Bella helps Carreta fire victims

Bella Ruby Santos, a suspect in the kidnap and murder of Ellah Joy Pique, made her presence felt yesterday.

Santos, through her lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, donated five sacks of “Bulldog White Rice” and a box of canned goods and noodles to fire victims in barangays Carreta and Tejero, Cebu City.

The donation was coursed through GMA-7’s Kapuso Foundation.

“All she (Bella) wanted is to help. The donation was done with the best intentions to help the fire victims,” said Villagonzalo who brought the goods to the GMA-7 Complex in barangay Apas, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Police, however, thought Santos’ donation was a stunt.

“It is a laudable act for any person to give assitance to the recent fire victims but… it (the donation) is a cheap trick,” said lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, counsel of Task Force Ellah Joy Pique.

Santos and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths are facing arrests in relation to the kidnap-slay of 6-year-old Pique last Feb. 8.

Villagonzalo admitted he communicates with Santos through the phone.

However, the lawyer said he has no idea where the accused is staying.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia promised to increase the reward money for the person who could give information leading to Santos’ arrest.

Governor Garcia said they are running a tipster program initiated by Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr. of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Police officers pitched in to raise P32,000 as reward.

Comendador in an earlier interview said they want to raise P50,000.

Garcia said she will meet Comendador and the prosecution to formally inform them that they would help find Santos.

Chief Supt. Ager Ontog, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas said he is thankful the provincial government supports them in encouraging people to give information on Santos’ whereabouts.