Judge okays review of Ecleo's health

Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Faith Econg has granted the prosecution's motion to review the health condition of cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. to determine whether or not he should continue to be out on bail or be put back in jail.

Econg, in an open court ruling, yesterday allowed Ecleo, who is accused of parricide for allegedly killing his wife, Alona, to be examined by a cardiologist other than his private doctor to determine his real health condition.

The prosecution panel led by private prosecutor Fritz Quiñanola earlier moved that Ecleo be examined jointly by government doctors from the Cebu City Medical Center and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to find out his health condition.

The prosecution wants the bail granted by judge Generosa Labra of RTC Branch 23, who was then handling the case, cancelled because the accused "does not anymore appear to be sick".

But, Econg said that instead of VSMMC and CCMC doctors, an expert in coronary diseases should examine Ecleo.

"This court however believes that it must be guided by professionals and doctors with specialization where the accused medical condition is at risk," Econg said.

Econg yesterday asked city prosecutor Nicolas Sellon to give the name of the cardiologist that they want to examine Ecleo. However, the prosecutor asked for a few more days to find one. Econg clarified that while she granted the prosecution's motion to have Ecleo examined to determine his health condition, she would also consider the opinion of Roberto Anastacio, Ecleo's cardiologist from the Makati Medical Center.

In fact, Econg said she will be considering Anastacio's opinion first before the other opinions. Ecleo's counsel, Orlando Salatandre has asked the court to issue a subpoena to Anastacio for him to appear before the court on May 12.

Econg said that the result of the medical examination will determine whether or not Ecleo can withstand the difficulty in jail.

Anastacio earlier diagnosed Ecleo to be suffering from stenosis of the right coronary artery in the mid portion of his body.

Stenosis is 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 to post a P1 million bail bond, 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 ischemia and premature arterial and ventricular beats with chest discomfort.

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

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

The private prosecutors lately observed that Ecleo has already regained his good physical condition, which is why they are now trying to get the cancellation of the bail granted to him. - Fred P. Languido