To send a message that Cebu City wants to ensure the protection of its judges, Mayor Tomas Osmeña has assigned one of the city’s best policemen, SPO2 Adonis Dumpit to be the personal bodyguard of Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg.
This move of Osmeña comes after Econg received death threats last month.
The judge has also requested the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 7 to provide her security escorts.
“We should protect our judges. I have ordered Dumpit to be the bodyguard of Econg until the (Ecleo) case is finished,” Osmeña said. The judge, who is handling the parricide case of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) “supreme master” Ruben Ecleo Jr., has reported to the police that she has received death threats.
Judge Econg said that the threat was sent to her via a text message. The message stated, “Judge condolence. Is’ng mo2r ka lang. – AKP.”
Because the initials AKP could also mean Alpha Khappa Rho, Econg called the office of fraternity head Richard Buscaino, who said it was impossible that someone from his group sent the message.
Econg then went to the Fuente Police Station to have the incident recorded in the police blotter.
The lady judge then went to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7), which has the capability to locate the origin of the message.
She said that according to the CIDG the sender was somewhere in the vicinity of Guadalupe.
Econg had police escorts for some time after some PBMA members allegedly wanted to enter her office to ask for a favor in behalf of Ecleo, who is facing a parricide charge for the death of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo.
But the said police escorts were later recalled after police said the judge was no longer under threat.
Judge Econg has been handling high-profile criminal cases, including that of Aristotle Aves, who is accused of being the trigger man in a drive-by shooting incident in the city.
Econg has tried to inhibit as presiding judge of the parricide case against the cult leader, but this was stopped by RTC Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia.
Dumpit, who has been involved in several controversial incidents, is one of the most trusted men of the mayor and is also a known sharpshooter. Dumpit was even detailed with the mayor at a certain point of his colorful career. — Jasmin R. Uy/NLQ