Homicide suspect Bella Ruby Santos was again in a generous mood when she offered chicken inasal (roasted chicken), puso (hanging rice), and pancit (Chinese noodles) to 100 inmates of the Naga City Jail yesterday.
Unfortunately for the inmates, the Naga City Jail won’t allow it.
“Santos used to share food with other inmates. Now, we prohibited her from having much food. It’s good if she’ll receive food enough for her,” Naga City Jail Warden Jenesis Mongcopa told Cebu Daily News.
The Task Force Ellah Joy, which is investigating Santos and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths for their alleged complicity in the kidnap-murder of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, commended the jail warden for rejecting Bella’s food treat.
The task force earlier cited anonymous sources who said Bella reportedly distributed several kilos of humba (pork stew) and fish to detainees and jail guards as well.
The Ombudsman-Visayas is investigating the incident.
Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago endorsed the complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices in Manila.
No violation
In an interview, Santos said she intend to share food to other inmates since her family celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in barangay Inayagan, Naga City, yesterday.
“I think there is no violation in distributing food to inmates. It’s the feast day in our place yesterday. Instead of inviting people who usually eat delicious food, I’d rather share food to the prisoners,” Santos told Cebu Daily News.
But Inocencio dela Cerna, lead counsel for the task force and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), said Bella is ingratiating herself with the inmates and her jailers.
“We want to prevent too much familiarization with the jailers. Later on, Santos will ask a favor from them. That, we must avoid,” Dela Cerna said.
Dela Cerna said while giving food is not unlawful, the jail personnel should avoid anything that may lead to irregularities in Bella’s detention.
Ellah Joy was abducted outside the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town in February.
Her body was later found off a ravine in Barili town, Cebu.
Special treatment
Santos was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) inside a mall in Metro Manila last Oct. 7.
Ellah Joy’s father Renante said they have detailed some persons who would monitor Santos inside the Naga City Jail.
“Santos should not be given any special treatment. She has been doing everything just to gain sympathy,” Renante said in a phone interview.
Renante said Santos seemed to underestimate other detainees who had received food from her.
He said Santos wants to feed the prisoners so they would keep silent on the special treatment she allegedly receives during her detention.
Renante said Santos brought with her an electric fan and a bed cushion inside the jail.
Santos denied Renante’s claim, saying the electric fan was already inside the jail when she was detained.
Survive anywhere
Santos had been detained with four female inmates in the women’s section of the Naga City Jail for 12 days.
Santos said she usually wakes up at 6 a.m. daily and cleans the toilet.
She said she spends her day talking with the inmates and reading the Bible.
“Maglingaw mi sa among kaugalingon (We have to entertain ourselves here),” she said.
Santos said she feels all right inside the jail and won’t oppose plans to transfer her to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
“I will survive anywhere,” said Santos, who is waiting for the court resolution on her motion for bail filed by her lawyers.
The 1987 Constitution states that “an accused has the right to bail unless he or she is charged with a capital offense where evidence of guilt is strong.”
Santos’ lawyers said the prosecution has no evidence to hold her liable for the crimes. She will be arraigned tomorrow.