Doc says Ecleo is fit to be in jail

The doctor tasked by the court to determine the health condition of cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. yesterday testified that the parricide suspect has "no significant coronary heart disease."

In a direct examination by private prosecutor Fritz V. Quiñanola, 54-year-old cardiologist Generoso Matiga, said that he believes Ecleo is already fit to be sent back to jail, contrary to the claim of his lawyers.

To recall, Matiga was the medical specialist, who supervised the stress test of Ecleo at the Perpetual Soccour Hospital last June 22.

He said that Ecleo is already in good health, because he had finished 16 minutes and one second of the treadmill test. According to Matiga, a person who surpasses the 15-minute mark of the stress test on a treadmill machine is healthy.

Although the blood pressure of Ecleo and his heart rate slightly increased while he was at the treadmill, Matiga told Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Faith Econg that this is normal when a person does exercise.

Ecleo's lawyer, Orlando Salatandre, who grilled Matiga for more than an hour, requested the court to order the cardiologist to appear again on August 28 so he could continue his cross examination.

Salatandre questioned the findings of Matiga that the heart problem of the 46-year-old Ecleo is still manageable, because they are contrary to the findings of Dr. Roberto Anastacio of the Makati Medical Center, Ecleo's cardiologist.

Ecleo's physician diagnosed him as having a problem based on a nuclear scan showing ischemia and premature atrial and ventricular beats with chest discomfort.

Salatandre reminded Matiga that Anastacio, is the Cebuano doctor's mentor while he was still working on his specialization in the medical profession.

Anastacio is attending to the medical needs of Ecleo, who is suffering from stenosis of the right coronary artery.

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.

But Matiga yesterday said that Ecleo's 30 percent stenosis problem is still not considered as serious unless it will reach 50 percent.

The court allowed Ecleo to post a P1 million bail in the early part of 2004 after his doctors at the Chong Hua Hospital described him as a "walking time bomb," who may drop dead anytime.

However, when Salatandre told Matiga about the previous findings, the doctor quickly told Salatandre, "You let that doctor testify before the court to prove his findings because I will not comment on that."

Salatandre repeatedly told Matiga that after two minutes when Ecleo was already performing the treadmill stress test, the latter already complained of dizziness, but the doctor reportedly advised him "continue, continue."

"I advised him to continue the treadmill stress test because what I have observed on his condition through the computer monitors was that he was still doing fine," Matiga said.

During the treadmill stress test, monitors are attached to the person - particularly on the area around his heart.

During the hearing, Salatandre even asked Dr. Matiga to draw a heart on a piece of bond paper and asked him where the parts of the heart are located and their functions.

The move of the defense lawyer did not amuse Quiñanola, who called it a dilatory tactic. Salatandre however quickly retorted that it was very important for him, because he plans to refer to other cardiologists, the findings of Matiga.

Ecleo was not able to attend the hearing of the case yesterday, because he was reportedly in Dinagat Island and failed to leave the island due to the rough seas.

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

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