Bella not hiding at home, manhunt in progress

ARMED with a warrant of arrest, members of the Naga City police yesterday went inside Santos’ two-story house in barangay Inayagan, which she reportedly pawned to a businessman.

Santos, one of the suspects in the kidnap and murder  of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last Feb. 8, wasn’t home.

Police also searched her old home a few blocks from her “dream house”  but they only met Santos’ mother and sister.

The police received the arrest warrant last Monday, six days after Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 ordered the arrest of Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths.

The arrest warrant was claimed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7).

However, the CIDG-7 and  Task Force Ellah Joy failed to arrest Santos.

They court gave them  10 days to arrest Santos.

If they  won’t arrest her  within the prescribed time, they have to return the warrant and submit a report  to the court.

The judge will then  issue an alias arrest warrant against Santos and Griffiths.

In an interview, National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas Regional  Director Edward Villarta said they are monitoring the whereabouts of Santos.

If they  arrest Santos, they have to turn her over to the task force, he said.

Villarta met with CIDG-7 lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna yesterday to discuss the arrest of the two accused.

“All efforts are being made by the NBI. This is a collective effort. If ever there is a fugitive of justice, this is what we are going to do,” Dela Cerna said.

He asked Santos to voluntarily surrender so her penalty “will be a degree lower.”

“I hope Santos will be enlightened in making her decision,” Dela Cerna said.

Lawyer Joan Saniel of the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) challenged Santos to yield to authorities.

“If she has not committed any mistake, she should face the charges. What she is doing now is a sign of guilt,” Saniel said.

CLB is representing the family of Ellah Joy in the case.

Saniel said the case will not start unless Santos will surrenders or gets arrested.

The lawyer said the Philippines has to make a request for Griffiths’ extradition to Cebu. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol