Santos’ whereabouts confound Cebu police

Where is Bella Ruby Santos?

Santos still could not be located as the 10 days given to the police to arrest her ends today.

If Santos remains at large until today, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) is expected to return to the court the arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 last Feb. 12.

Santos is one of the primary suspects in the kidnap-slay of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

CIDG-7 was given 10 days today to serve the arrest order to Santos and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths.

As this developed, CIDG-7 lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said negotiations with Santos’ camp has resumed.

“There is a continuing backdoor talks (between us and Santos’ camp),” said Dela Cerna without elaborating.

Dela Cerna reiterated calls for Santos to voluntarily surrender to authorities.

If Santos won’t heed his request, the lawyer said they have to chase and arrest the accused.

The court is expected to issue an “alias” warrant of arrest so all law enforcement agencies in the country would pursue the accused.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, spokesperson of the Task Force Ella Joy, said the police  are ready to secure Santos should she surrender to anyone aside from the police.

Comendador, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said the police are willing to expand their manhunt to foreign countries since there were reports that Santos has already left the country./WITH A REPORT FROM CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC