Court gives Ecleo ten days

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras has given the camp of Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. ten days to submit a reply to the motion of the prosecution.

Judge Peras recently cancelled the P1 million bail put up by Ecleo and ordered his arrest. 

The camp of Ecleo asked the court to reconsider the decision, which was opposed by the prosecution panel in the parricide case that the politician is facing.

Ecleo is the prime suspect in the death of his wife, Alona, in 2002.

Peras gave the order to Ecleo’s lawyer Orlando Salatandre yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, lawyer Democrito Barcenas filed their opposition to the motion for reconsideration filed by Ecleo asking the court to reconsider his decision to defer the issuance of the warrant of arrest against him.

Barcenas said they vehemently oppose the motion for reconsideration of the defense.

“The arguments raised therein is a rehash of the defense counsel’s earlier arguments repeatedly made before this Honorable Court and which the court already judiciously considered before coming up with its April 6, 2011 order,” opposition reads.

Barcenas said Salatandre had promised to the court during the February 23 hearing that the accused will attend the next hearing on March 9, but Ecleo did not.

Ecleo also failed to attend the April 6 hearing.

Barcenas said “it is apparent now that the defense counsels have lost control of their client. It is apparent now that the accused will no longer surface as long as there warrants for his arrest.

Barcenas added that the surety company that undertook the P1 million bail bond of Ecleo, Commonwealth Insurance Company, has already been de-listed by the Supreme Court as one of its accredited surety firms.

Salatandre said they will check if that report is true.

“We will verify it, but if this is true then we will find, another insurance company,” Salatandre said.

Salantandre added he does not know the whereabouts of Ecleo as of the moment.

In the motion for reconsideration filed by Ecleo through Salatandre on April 8, he asked the court to reconsider the decision to cancel his bail and to defer the issuance of warrant of arrest as they had submitted motions before the Sandiganbayan and Supreme Court.

Ecleo in his motion asked the court to resolve first their motions before the Sandiganbayan and Supreme Court before the court will issue the warrant of arrest against him.

Peras cancelled the bail of Ecleo on April 6, when the latter failed to attend his scheduled hearing on parricide case.

Ecleo has also been ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan in relation to a graft case where he was found guilty.

This case stemmed from anomalies that were discovered when he was mayor of San Jose town in Dinagat Island. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)