Tossing her long, black hair, 35-year-old Bella Ruby Santos took the witness stand yesterday to deny that she and her “partner” had anything to do with the death of an 8-year-old girl.
“I was very shocked,” she told the judge, and said she removed her Facebook account because she was “so embarrassed” upon learning that her house in Naga City was raided by the police on March 11.
Under oath, Santos talked about Ian Charles Griffiths, the British national charged along with her for the Feb. 8 kidnapping and murder of grade 1 pupil Ellah Joy Pique, whom police say was a victim of the couple’s cybersex or online pornography service.
The former bar girl called the Briton “my partner” for the past five years.
“I know him (Griffiths) very well. We talk a lot, heart- to-heart talks,” she said, testifying easily in English.
“He is a financial director in a big company” in Singapore involved in a “computer business,” she said.
She vouched that Griffiths has no business deals in the Philippines and has never been charged before with a criminal offense.
Santos was not the least bit hesitant when her Manila lawyer Ana Luz Cristal called her to the stand.
The witness wore bright red lipstick and a confident air.
Replying to a query by Judge Meinrado Paredes about her marital status, Santos said, “I’m married, but separated, not legally.”
In a low-cut white lace dress, black stockings and gray half boots, Santos, with her Louis Vuitton handbag, was not the typical witness in the somber courtroom.
Minutes before her turn came up, she exchanged sharp words with a police officer and challenged PO3 Angelito Yaun of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to a fistfight.
Yaun was one of the police officers who applied for the search warrant to raid her house. Police seized a Mitsubishi Pajero later found to be registered in Santos’ name and which is suspected to be the vehicle used in Ellah Joy’s abduction.
Santos’ lawyers yesterday filed perjury charges against CIDU-7’s Willard Selibio, PO3 Yaun, and private witnesses Richard Ian Bruce Bansuan and Ligaya Escultos before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office for allegedly “fabricating” allegations that had led the judge to issue a search warrant.
Santos, who was seated on a bench beside her lawyer, approached PO3 Yaun who was standing near her and apparently starting.
“Nagdako man lang nang imong mata (Your eyes are big),” she said.
Yaun retorted, “Ngano man, ang imo gamay?” (Why, are your eyes small?)
In an interview later, Santos said she was just reacting to Yaun’s tuant: “Tuo ka mahadlok ko nimo?” (You think I’m afraid of you?)
To which the woman allegedly replied: “Wala man man ko nahadlok nimo. Kon isog ka sumbaga ko karon.” (I’m not afraid of you. If you are so brave, punch me). Bella said Yaun reportedly told her, “Sumbagon tika sa gawas.” (I will punch you outside).
Cebu Daily News 
maldita_cebuana
April 6, 2011
Bella Ruby Santos thinks that she can fool everyone. This woman is a big shame to all Cebuanos. I know we have to give her the benefit of the doubt, but how can we do that when she talks, acts and looks like a b#tch.. I hope Ella will be given justice.. Poor Ellah, I hope everyone who helps the real suspects will get what they deserve, and that is a never ending curse right until there lineage ends..
chin
May 7, 2011
if you we’re Bella’s shoes, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO?
I’m sure you will also act and fight as she does…
Lorenzo Espino
May 14, 2011
If I were in Bella Ruby Santos’ shoes, I will never dare a policeman for a fist fight. I will not also show a sign to slit the throat of the poor father or show off my naked tongue inside a courtroom. Moreso, I will never videotape my sex acts with a boyfriend. For me, the best thing to do is to wait for the investigation to end because I will not worry if I am not guilty of any offense. What about you, would you?
Beth B. Nacario
April 8, 2011
The question lies on the fact that there should be somebody who is backing up Bella Ruby Santos on her cybersex den operation. Alledgedly, she’s a “from rags to riches” beauty and what made her rich is something to be pondered. There are people who uses the weakness of other people to make “easy money” and are in hiding under the guise of being “supportive” and/or “helpful” . Ellah Joy Pique’s death will only be brought to justice if the people around her would be truthful and would think of themselves as parents of the murdered 6 yr old. After all, Bella Ruby Ssantos is a mother of 2 kids who are separated from her for years. There must be pain within her to be away from them.
Liza Luz Lim
April 13, 2011
@Maldita Cebuana. It’s not because Bella Ruby Santos talks, acts and looks like a “b” she’s already a “murderer”..She can also be a victim. We do not know who is behind her “luxurius” way of living. Let’s give her a chance. Although there is an issue about her being so defensive, one can also think that she is using offense as her defense. But, everything has an end. She cannot hide the truth. Let’s just wait and see what is in store for her. Justice will prevail and I still believe the justice system in the Philippines can be trusted.
Olive dela Torre
April 16, 2011
By the way, who is the registered owner of LHJ382 in the LTO? If it is not Bella Ruby Santos, then why not issue a search warrant to the real one? If the LHJ382 is non-existent, then it must be LMJ382 that the witnesses saw in the crime scene in Barili. It is not impossible for the witnesses to misread the letters because it was dark and the H and the M could be more or less “unclear” from a far view especially that they were on a motorbike. With the cybersex den operations going on in the house of Bella Ruby Santos, it is not also impossible for the partners to go farther in flourishing their booming business operations. Something has to be done and may the witnesses be protected by the police and may the police may not turn their backs when the Santos camp start to use their “financial resources” to make the twists and turns happen in the near future.
Monica Munji
April 20, 2011
What does her facebook account something to do with her case if she is innocent? Why is she overwhelmed in taking back the pieces of evidence like hair strands, sex toys, stained blanket, etc., etc., if she has nothing to do do with the kidnapping and murder? Why is she protecting her ” partner ” with a claim of his integrity when he did not even come back to Cebu from Singapore to protect her at that point in time when she was already subjected to questioning by the police and was already considered a suspect? Why did she use Makati lawyers when she is from Cebu? Who is behind her cybersex den? Why was she denied approval with her petition/application with the INS to join her husband in Queens, NY? Why did she lie and use the barangay’s bus to take a group of 30 people to join her in court? Why did her lawyer allow her to feed the judge’s staff in the height of a court hearing? What would be the reason why the police will tamper her pajero’s plate number? Bella Ruby Santos, will you please answer all these questions to prove to the world that you are not guilty.
D. Luke
April 18, 2011
She is both a victim and a law breaker. I think the PI justice system needs to be revamped–how is a suspected child killer not able to be detained and the warrants have to be too precise. Too many entitlements (not rights) entitlements for the suspect. An article quoted her as saying she was joining her children in the US soon (thats why she is separated–secret) so she can come to US on marriage visa when her spouse gets his citizenship soon. Wonder when she was going to tell her rich british boyfriend that. Also, he went to England — bet he set up his own arrest there–so he doesn’t have to take a chance on being tried in the Philippines. He will be blacklisted at least I would assume from entering Philippines so I bet there relationship will be over–because Thailand has plenty of young beautiful girls there that are willing to do anything for money. Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying all girls in the Philippines will do anything for money–but there is people in all societies that will do things for money if their situation is desperate in their own eyes. Watch now that her boyfriends accounts are frozen — it won’t be long until things stop going her way, who now will pay people off to do what her defense team wants.
Vivica Perez de Tagle
April 21, 2011
Bella Ruby Santos mentioned that she rather join the rebels rather than being in prison. Why? Does she think that the rebels are kidnappers and murderers? She’s definitely wrong. Not all rebels are murderers. They have reasons but not the way she thinks. Bella Ruby Santos, you better shape up. Wait until your rich boyfriend stops sending you money so you will sell your expensive LV bags to pay for your expensive “imported” lawyers. Isn’t it clear enough that no one did you see you in your house on Feb 8/11 at that time when the girl was kidnapped and murdered? What’s your alibi? Tampering your pajero’s plate number to delay the investigative process or to mislead the police? If you are innocent, wait for the investigation to end. Do not use other people to bolster your image. There is no reason to panic if you did nothing to break the law of the land. God is looking at you even if you can get away from this crime. Your conscience will also haunt you for the rest of your life. At this point in time, maybe it is better for you to ask forgiveness from your husband and your two children who are missing you and waited for you for years so you can join them in America.
John R. Remoroso
April 26, 2011
I’ve been following the news of the Ella Joy Pique’s murder case. What I found so intriguing is the latest development of Bella Ruby Santos’ admission that she and her boyfriend Ian Charles Griffith had a sex video which are now in the hands of CIDG. She wanted it back. Will this be returned? She claimed it should be returned because it is a violation of her privacy. Wow, did she not think about it when she did the sex video with her boyfriend? She also mentioned that the video had her two sons on it. Then why would she not allow to show it in court? It might even help her case in one way or the other. She has a lot of “baggage” in her chest. Better tell the truth Bella Ruby Santos. It might be of little help to you and your partner.
Peter Lumbera
April 28, 2011
Bravo! Judge M. Paredes you’re great! Tomorrow’s public viewing will solve the mystery of the death of Ella Joy Pique. If Bella Ruby Santos has nothing to hide, then why would she and her lawyer disallow the viewing? Sex is not for sale for two people who care for each other so she must not fret for things that she’s been deprived of. I am now convinced that the justice system in our country can still be trusted. Keep it up Sir!
bella
April 30, 2011
you guys suck! all you do is giving a bias false alarm comments. u dont know nothing so you better shut up and wait what is the result to all of this.
Lucy Lim
April 30, 2011
It’s so dissapointing. What did the defense team do to change the date of the “public viewing”? Something smells fishy…. And, why was the pajero returned….Double jeopardy for the CIDG. Can you take this? Your integrity is at stake. Does money really talk? Tsk tsk tsk…………….
chin
May 7, 2011
guys, you don’t know the REAL story between Bella and Benj… so stop saying those things or judging Bella for being away from her family beside its non of our business…
regarding Bella’s case, stop that blahblahblah, just leaved it up to the Court…
all we can do here is to pray for fair justice…
Salvador Dela Merced
May 9, 2011
Why? What is the real story of Bella and Benj? It is not about them. It is about a kidnapping and murder. It is a sad story of parents losing a 6 yr old child. It is also an interesting story about a Pajero LHJ382 and LMJ382. Likewise, it is a scary story about a defendant making a sign to slit the throat of the father of the murdered child inside a courtroom. It is an interesting story about the “integrity of a rich boyfriend” who happens to have “sex video” with her. It is also an embarrassing story once the “sex video” will be approved for public viewing in court. It is a lamentable story of a mother who assigns custody of her two sons to her husband while she is videotaping her sex life with her boyfriend. It is a daring story of a suspect who flaunts but cleanly cover the tracks of her financial investor. Lastly, It is a unique story of a single case with two private investigations done at the same time. There must be “another story” behind it.
Crow Hirst
July 11, 2011
Her Vuitton bags are fakes , so she would not get but a few pesos if she sold them anyway and in fact she is committing an offence by purchasing or receiving goods that break the copyright of the lawful owner of those bag designs. In the end the decision of this trial should be decided on the evidence presented and the defence of the charges. However she is not doing her case any good by acting the way she is – it will just ensure she receives a maximum penalty if she is found guilty.
Martin
October 7, 2011
Again this police investigation is poorly done….it is only a little improved over the previous investigation which sought to charge a Norwegian for the murder. I cannot say if Bella is guilty or not….because so much evidence is lacking on this case. I also am curious the reasons a Cebu police officer threatens a witness in the case to a fight outside the court house!!