Judge scraps bail, orders Ecleo jailed

CEBU, Philippines - The court canceled the P1 million bail of Dinagat, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. yesterday and another warrant for his arrest was issued by Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court.

This is the second arrest warrant for Ecleo, who has not been seen since the Sandiganbayan also issued a warrant for his arrest after he was convicted in a graft case.

Peras issued the arrest warrant as Ecleo has not been attending hearings. He was out on bail due to his health condition, which was described as like that of ‘a walking time bomb’ due to a heart ailment.

Ecleo has already missed three straight hearings for the parricide case he is facing for the death of his wife, Alona Bacolod Ecleo, on January 5, 2002. The judge ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG)-CARAGA to implement the warrant of arrest against Ecleo.

Likewise, Peras ordered Ecleo to undergo bypass operation not later than May 8 after Ecleo up to this time did not undergo bypass, which was one of the grounds for the court to grant his request for bail last 2004.

Meanwhile, the motion for resetting of the case trial filed by Ecleo through his counsel lawyer Orlando Salatandre last Monday was denied by the court.

Salatandre said his client asked for resetting because the latter has a legal problem in relation to his conviction for three counts of graft during his term as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Island.

Ecleo was held liable for overpaying for the construction of two municipal buildings and for spending public funds for a women’s center owned by his group, the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).

Ecleo is the supreme master of the PBMA, a position he inherited from his father.

Peras said that the cancellation of the bail was his only remedy so Ecleo would attend the hearings.

He added that the court observes that the legal problem raised by the accused was a simple matter that could be solved if he surrenders himself to the authorities.  

Salatandre said that they will file a motion for reconsideration.

Salatandre also said that he does not know the whereabouts of Ecleo.

“I don’t know where Ecleo is, but I’m sure he did not attend the hearing today, because of his problem in relation to his conviction in Sandiganbayan,” Salatandre said.

The body of Ecleo’s wife, which was stuffed inside a trash bag, was found in the southern town of Dalaguete. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)