‘We shouldn’t be tried,’ Bella, boyfriend insist

THE two suspects in the kidnap and murder of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique yesterday requested  the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office to “reverse and set aside” the ruling that found them liable for the girl’s death.

Bella Ruby Santos and British partner Ian Charles Griffiths, in filing their motion for reconsideration, presented four more legal counsels to assist lawyers Rameses Villagonzalo and Ana Luz Cristal.

They are Lyndon Maceren, Ronel Ubod, Julius Caesar Entice and Roberto Rublico.

Santos wasn’t around when the pleading was filed.

She was reportedly not feeling well and  stayed in Moalboal town, southwestern Cebu, Villagonzalo said.

Santos’ lawyers asked prosecutors not to pursue the filing of formal charges against the couple before the Regional Trial Court.

“The entire case against Santos and Griffiths failed to establish even a spark of probable cause,” they said.

They said that witnesses presented by Task Force Ellah Joy should not be believed.

“There can be no positive identification to speak of. This case must not reach the court since no probable cause can be established,” the lawyers said.

But lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, lead counsel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas, dismissed the arguments of the respondents as  a “rehash” of earlier claims that were not given weight by the panel of prosecutors.

Meanwhile, Ellah Joy’s father Renante Pique told Cebu Daily News that he has no objections  to Santos’ hiring of more lawyers.

“That’s natural because she has money to spend and it’s her right to find people to defend her,” Renante said.

He said he is not worried that Santos would try to leave the country.

Renante said Senior Supt. Patrocinio Commendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office,  keeps him abreast of the case.

“Commendador assured that they are monitoring Bella’s every move. It’s the right of the task force to monitor her,” he said.

Renante told CDN he is happy that the case has been elevated.

“The elevation of the case is a big thing. The entire barangay, not just me, is happy about what happened.

“The prosecutors really saw probable cause. They really gave weight to the statements of the witnesses,” he said.

Renante said he will meet with the task force  about their preparations for the court trial.

Ellah Joy would have turned 7 on July 9.

Renante said they have no plans yet for this day. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol and Carmel Loise Matus