Suspects in Ellah Joy case want charges dropped

THE primary suspects in the kidnap-slay of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique is seeking the dismissal of the charges filed against them for “lack of merit, factual and legal bases.”

Defense lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo raised doubts on the credibility of witnesses presented by the police task force.

He said accused Bella Ruby Santos and British national Ian Charles Griffiths were innocent and made “sacrificial lambs” by police due to public pressure to solve the case.

Santos and Griffiths are facing a complaint of kidnapping with homicide for the death of Ellah Joy, who was taken by a car-riding couple as the pupil was walking home from the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town last Feb. 8.

Prosecutors have to decide whether to file the case in court.

Villagonzalo said the testimonies of new witnesses were just placed by the police in the area to justify the execution of their perjured affidavits.

The defense lawyer also questioned why the police’s alleged eyewitnesses executed affidavits almost two months after the incident.

A Pajero owned by Santos was pointed to by witnesses as the same vehicle used by the culprits.

The vehicle was seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) inside Santos’ residence in barangay Inayagan, Naga City.
The court later ordered to release the car back to Santos. REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL