Citing health reasons: Ecleo a no-show at parricide hearing

CEBU, Philippines - The very tight security in the Palace of Justice grounds and at the sala of Regional Trial Court branch 10 judge Soliver Peras ended up useless as the person to whom the security was intended to did not show up at the hearing of the case.

The seven-year controversial parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. resumed yesterday but the proceedings were off limits to the media.

Ecleo was a no-show at the hearing as according to his counsel, Atty. Orlando Salatandre, his client is in his house in Dinagat Island, currently looked upon by a private nurse and physician due to his illness.

Salatandre said they will be presenting Ecleo’s doctor to prove that there is indeed danger if his client will be sent back to jail.

Peras, the seventh judge to handle the case, wanted to rule on the prosecution’s motion for Ecleo’s cancellation of bail before trial on the case starts.

The prosecution’s counsel, Atty. Fritz Quiñanola said that on October 25, the court will be hearing the motion for cancellation of bail with the defense to present its witness. He said that yesterday’s hearing was only to hear the arguments of both parties.

Prosecution lawyers sought the cancellation of Ecleo’s bail in order to return the cult leader to jail.

Six judges inhibited themselves from handling the case against Ecleo, a former mayor of San Jose town, Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte.

On March 1, 2004, Judge Generosa Labra of RTC branch 23 earlier granted a P1-million bail on Ecleo after being informed by the cult leader’s doctors about his critical heart condition. The decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in a decision dated last July 27.

In a previous court testimony Dr. Generoso Matiga, a cardiologist of Perpetual Soccour Hospital said Ecleo had no significant coronary disease which would endanger his life if he was sent back to jail.

However in his testimony last July 13, Matiga told RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of branch 9 that his examination was inconclusive.

Defense lawyers insisted that the medical, echocardiographic, treadmill stress test and cardiac catherization report of Matiga were all “baseless.” They said there was no confirmation of the reports that “re-commitment to the jail will not endanger the life of the accused.” — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB  (FREEMAN NEWS)