Court Frees Bella Ruby

After posting the P500,000 bail, the court early today released Bella Ruby Santos, suspect of the kidnap-slay case of Ellah Joy Pique in 2011.

“Considering that this is a bail hearing, the court finds that thus far, there is insufficient ground to warrant the denial of bail to the herein accused,” read the order of Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6.

Santos, 37, has been detained at the Naga City Jail for the last 18 months. She was tagged for the kidnapping and killing of Pique, a grade-one pupil of Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town. The charge against Santos was non-bailable but Veloso said her petition to post bail was granted after the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence for him to deny the request.

At around 9:00 a.m. today, the Naga City Jail released Santos, who was greeted by her family and relatives. Santos and her family then went immediately to the Our Lady of Holy Rosary in Barangay Inayagan, Naga City before proceeding to her home in the same barangay.