The Informant That Led Authorities To Bella Ruby Santos

[Garpo]

Do you really think justice is served by prosecuting a case that is so evidentially weak that it fails? The victim's family had already suffered one failed attempt to prosecute and that, on top of losing Ellah Joy, would deal them a triple-whammy. The chances that CIDG will reopen the case and find the true perpetrators are really rather remote. You may not realise it, but the case against Santos and Griffiths was all put together inside a week, just as was the case against Berger and Esdrelon. Demands for quick results and rushes to justice generally result in miscarriages of justice - or failed cases.

Mark, Unlike you, I have not rushed to any judgement on the evidence. You may very well have some inside information but I very much doubt that you know all of the information and evidence in the case. I would also suspect that while the arrest were made inside a week, they have continued to work on the case and gather additional information. Some and most murder suspects are arrested inside of 48 hours, so does that mean they are all innocent? Prosecutors do not always have slam dunk cases, If they did not feel that they have a chance at a conviction then I would suggest to you that they would not have charged anybody especially after what happened with Berger and Esdrelon. I feel that it is not you or I that should decide on guilt or innocence. Lets leave that up to the Judge who hears the actual evidence. While you seem to think that nobody can get a fair trial, I think that some and most do. When justice is not obtained then I would say that it is a heck of a lot more guilty people walking free than it is innocent people being locked up. That is the way it should be. Let the criminal justice system do their job and lets see what happens. If Griffiths and Santos could produce some good evidence of innocence then I would be the first to jump on your band wagon and demand charges be dismissed but they or their lawyers have elected to to just attack the prosecutors case and scream about the lack of evidence rather than putting together a case of their own. Berger and Esdrelon were able to produce evidence of innocence and the charges were dismissed. they are the ones that should be making threats of civil law suits. Griffiths and Santos can do the same but so far they have not produced anything that is public knowledge. The prosecution feel that they have enough evidence, the defense feels that they do not. I am sure that a qualified judge can make a much better decision that you or I can since the only information we get is through the media. You may have some inside information, but I question if that information is all that important and I also would guess that the information is coming from the defense. Not the prosecution.

[Markham]

If Griffiths and Santos could produce some good evidence of innocence then I would be the first to jump on your band wagon and demand charges be dismissed

Berger and Esdrelon were extremely lucky to have had such cast-iron alibis - which the Police refused to investigate. Very few accused persons are so lucky. Can you provide cast-iron alibis to cover every aspect of your life? I know I can't and would be extremely surprised if you could.

but they or their lawyers have elected to to just attack the prosecutors case and scream about the lack of evidence

It is not the Defence that is who is trumpeting their evidence in public but the Prosecution, therefore the Defence has every right to attack it publicly. And don't forget that the CPPO Director has publicly accused Santos and Griffiths of bribery twice but has singularly failed to produce on jot of evidence for either charge and has not filed those charges against them.

rather than putting together a case of their own.

You don't know that. Just because you haven't read anything in the newspapers.

[Old55]

I can't believe the Police wants any case to fail, especially one that is as high-profile as this one. If/when it fails, the senior officers will absolve themselves of responsibility and pass the blame down the line. The problem there is, that there are some very good Police officers in the lowly ranks who otherwise do good work. They will become thoroughly humiliated and demoralised with the result that some may leave. And that begs a question - are the upper ranks truly serious about clearing-up sex crimes?

I don't know what happened in this case but my feelings are that the police are unable or unwilling to get past Santos and her BF. If the Brit stays outside the country beyond their grasp they could save face in that fact? I do agree with your assessment about the higher ranks finding a "fall guy" to blame at some point. I do think the police want to prosecute all serious crime except for those they were paid off to look the other way .

[Markham]

I don't know what happened in this case but my feelings are that the police are unable or unwilling to get past Santos and her BF. If the Brit stays outside the country beyond their grasp they could save face in that fact? I do agree with your assessment about the higher ranks finding a "fall guy" to blame at some point. I do think the police want to prosecute all serious crime except for those they were paid off to look the other way .

Be a bit hard but you can be absolutely certain that if the UK refuses to extradite Griffiths, everyone from the Governor down will blame the case's collapse on the British Government. Many Filipinos - and some here - seem to think that Britain is honour-bound to extradite Griffiths simply because he has been charged with an offence That's a myth promulgated by the Prosecution and CIDG Lawyers - all of whom should know better. I've even read comments where it is suggested that PNP officers should fly to the UK and arrest him - as if that is even legal or possible. The mere fact that he has been declared guilty in the press is enough, they argue. Sooner or later some are going to have to face the realities of this case and they may find their illusion of this being an island paradise are exactly that: an illusion.

[Garpo]

I don't know what happened in this case but my feelings are that the police are unable or unwilling to get past Santos and her BF. If the Brit stays outside the country beyond their grasp they could save face in that fact? I do agree with your assessment about the higher ranks finding a "fall guy" to blame at some point. I do think the police want to prosecute all serious crime except for those they were paid off to look the other way .

Be a bit hard but you can be absolutely certain that if the UK refuses to extradite Griffiths, everyone from the Governor down will blame the case's collapse on the British Government. Many Filipinos - and some here - seem to think that Britain is honour-bound to extradite Griffiths simply because he has been charged with an offence That's a myth promulgated by the Prosecution and CIDG Lawyers - all of whom should know better. I've even read comments where it is suggested that PNP officers should fly to the UK and arrest him - as if that is even legal or possible. The mere fact that he has been declared guilty in the press is enough, they argue. Sooner or later some are going to have to face the realities of this case and they may find their illusion of this being an island paradise are exactly that: an illusion.

I have not seen anybody here or anywhere else that has declared Griffiths or Santos guilty of anything. I have however seen those that declare that it is a fact that they are innocent. For the sake of all foreigners in the Philippines, I hope that Griffiths was not involved in the murder. Any foreigner that commits such a crime makes all of us look bad. there is nothing I would like more than to be provided with any evidence or information that would make me believe that he was not involved. But, at this point I just hope that we can leave it up to much more qualified people to determine. Everything we are getting here is media hype or hearsay information. Neither of which should be considered as reliable or factual.

[Markham]

I have not seen anybody here or anywhere else that has declared Griffiths or Santos guilty of anything.

Living on Luzon you could be forgiven for saying that. However several prosecutors, Police officers and their legal counsel have all made such statements ahead of any trial. The prosecution is so desperate to win its case that it has had to resort to making claims of further wrong-doing by the couple in order to win public support. But when challenged, they fail to name names or press charges - even though they claim they have evidence! As recently as yesterday, the Warden of Naga Jail was accused of granting Bella Santos "phone privileges" - a claim he not only denies but has challenged those who made it to provide proof. Which of course they can't. In case you're not aware, accusing someone of committing an offence and not being able to back that up with proof, is both defamatory and libellous. The fact that such accusations are published on the internet merely compounds the Tort.