Cops quiz Bella’s cousin about her whereabouts

Bella Ruby Santos was in Cagayan de Oro last month.

She may have been in Moalboal town in southwestern Cebu when the order to arrest her was issued on July 12.

That’s what her cousin, Edgardo Villarino, told police who invited him for questioning yesterday.

Villarino accompanied her to Mindanao on June 27 but told police yesterday he didn’t know the whereabouts of his elusive cousin after the arrest warrant was issued.

Relatives were worried when Senior Insp. George Ylanan went to Villarino’s house in barangay Inayagan, Naga City yesterday to invite him to the Cebu provincial police office. They were relieved when he returned home later.

Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths face charges of homicide and kidnapping for the death of 6-year old Ellah Joy Pique, a Minglanilla pupil.

Santos earlier denied any hand in the child’s disapperance but has remained out of sight since the filing of non-bailable charges in court.

Police found out that Santos was in the company of Villarino and another relative, Concepcion Pardillo, for a trip to Cagayan de Oro last month.

Villarino said that his cousin requested his company in a trip to Cagayan de Oro on June 27 and that they returned to Cebu three days later.

He joined the appeal of family members and relatives for Santos to surface and face the charges.

Pardillo said they hadn’t heard from Santos since she told them she’ll be in Moalboal town in Cebu for a “gimmick.”

He said Santos went alone and didn’t ask for anyone’s company.

“Wherever my cousin is right now, it’s better if she just surrenders for her own good,” Villarino said in Cebuano.

“We have no idea where she is. Perhaps she’s also being careful because money is a temptation and her parents are poor. Even with us relatives, she doesn’t trust to leave her phone number,” said Pardillo. (Siguro nagbantay sad siya kay init baya ang kwarta unya sa ka pobre sa iyang mga parente.)

Police said a private citizen was offering P100,000 reward for information to trace her whereabouts. With Gabriel C. Bonjoc