Econg asks SC to approve inhibition from Ecleo case

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg has reiterated before the Supreme Court her request to affirm her order of voluntary inhibition from the celebrated parricide case against Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association supreme master Ruben Ecleo, Jr.

Econg, in her manifestation and comment, submitted before the Supreme Court First Division, asked that the high tribunal would allow her inhibition from the case to avoid doubts of her partiality.

The Department of Justice earlier sought for Econg’s inhibition from further hearing the case because of alleged bias in favor of the accused. The call for her inhibition prompted Econg to heed for it on April 21 of last year.

However, Econg’s inhibition was denied by then RTC executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia. De Gracia then found non-merit in Econg’s inhibition and recommended before the Supreme Court to direct the latter to continue hearing the case and dispose it within 60 days to offset any perception of further delay.

Econg, on the other hand, reiterated that her decision to inhibit from the case is a matter of judicial in nature, which the executive judge does not have the authority to deny it. Econg contended that it is only the Supreme Court which has the power to review her order.

Although she granted the prosecution’s motion for inhibition, Econg maintained that she has not been biased in favor of any party in the conduct of court proceedings.

Pending the Supreme Court ruling on Econg’s inhibition, the parricide case against Ecleo will continue to drag on. In fact it has been almost a year since the hearing of the case was suspended.

Econg will not continue hearing the case while it could not also be assigned to other courts pending the resolution of the inhibition issue.

Ecleo has been charged with parricide for allegedly killing his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, in 2002. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)