Defense lawyers say: Manila doctor can back Ecleo's claim of illness

Parricide suspect and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. yesterday asked the court to summon his Manila-based doctor to testify that he is unhealthy.

Ecleo, through his lawyers Orlando Salatandre and Giovanni Mata, filed a four-page motion urging Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Faith Econg to let Roberto Anastacio appear before her with his medical records.

Anastacio is one of the cardiologists of the Makati Medical Center and the one attending to the medical needs of Ecleo, who is allegedly suffering from stenosis of the right coronary artery in the mid portion of his body.

Stenosis has been defined as an abnormal condition characterized by the constriction or narrowing of an opening or passageway in a body structure. The narrowing of the vessel reduces and compromises the blood flow thereby depriving the cardiac muscles of the needed oxygen and other nutrients.

When Ecleo was released in the early part of 2004 after he was allowed by the court to post bail at P1 million, the former mayor of San Jose town in Surigao del Norte was immediately confined at the Makati Medical Center for 16 days.

Ecleo's physician diagnosed him as having chest discomfort.

His lawyers successfully convinced the court to grant temporary liberty to the Ecleo -head of the Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association- after they described him as a "walking time bomb" who may "drop dead anytime".

Ecleo is facing a parricide case for allegedly masterminding the killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod sometime in January 2002.

A woman's body placed inside a black garbage bag, that the prosecution claimed was that of Alona's, was found dumped in barangay Coro, Dalaguete town, on January 8, 2002.

The private prosecutors observed that Ecleo has already regained his health which is why they are now trying to make some legal moves for the court to look into the possible cancellation of his bail.

Lawyer Fritz Quiñanola suggested that Ecleo be ordered to submit himself for a medical checkup with government doctors at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center or Cebu City Medical Center.

But Ecleo's lawyers explained it is not easy for their client to be examined by a new and another physician without first knowing his present health condition through his attending doctor.

Ecleo reportedly reports to his cardiologists in the Makati Medical Center every now and then for continuous medical surveillance and Salatandre said the former mayor was strongly advised to avoid "stressful situations". - Rene U. Borromeo