Cebu IBP chapters ask DOJ: Lawyers want Ecleo in-laws protected

CEBU, Philippines - The two chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu are seeking reconsideration on the Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to terminate the Bacolod siblings from the Witness Protection Program.

The Bacolods are siblings of Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, who was killed in 2002. The trial of the case where Alona’s husband Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. is the accused is still ongoing.

The Cebu Province and Cebu City Chapters of the IBP made joint resolution No. 02-2011 asking DOJ secretary Leila de Lima that the Bacolod siblings shall be returned and continue to be placed under the Witness Protection Program until the termination of the case.

“The members of the IBP private prosecution panel have expressed that the case is of extraordinary character and the accused is a powerful and influential person who has since jumped bail and has remained at large despite the warrants of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan and Regional Trial Court. Thus, they were thereupon placed under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program,” resolution reads.

IBP Cebu City Chapter President Earl Bonachita said that the Bacolods have continued to receive threats and there is a need for them to return to witness protection program.

Bonachita said after the members of the IBP can sign the resolution, they will furnish copies to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, secretary of justice, the IBP National President, IBP Eastern Visayas Governor, Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane and members of the IBP private prosecution panel — lawyers Alfredo Sipalay and Kit Enriquez.

Meanwhile, Enriquez, counsel of Bacolod family, sent a letter to the DOJ through its regional office asking for reconsideration of the memorandum dated April 13, 2011 which de Lima penned.

In a memorandum effective June 1, 2011, de Lima ordered the removal of the Bacolod siblings from the Witness Protection Program as they have already completed their testimonies and the threats against them have been reduced to a minimum level.

Enriquez stressed that there is a need for the return of Bacolod siblings to the program as Ecleo, supreme master of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), is not an ordinary person.

“He is not an ordinary person and in fact it was admitted by the defense they cannot prevent the other members of the PBMA of not doing any move as their supreme master was charged,” Enriquez said.

Furthermore, he said a relative of the witnesses, Alex Bacolod, even offered money on behalf of Ecleo for them (witnesses) to withdraw the parricide case.

Enriquez added Alex Bacolod likewise knows where the five witnesses are staying.

Trial Continues

Josebil Bacolod took the witness stand yesterday during the continuation of the rebuttal and opposed the statement of Ecleo, who said he was in their house on January 5, 2002.

Josebil said on January 5, he saw Ecleo and Joreven Panadero carrying a garbage bag and put it on the baggage compartment of a car.

However, this statement of Josebil was first opposed by Ecleo, who stated that if he was carrying a plastic bag, for sure the PBMA members will help him as many of them visited him that day.

On January 8, 2002, Josebil said they went to Dalaguete after hearing from a news report that there was body found inside a garbage bag.

Upon seeing the body, they believed it was their sister Alona and it was verified after they also saw her belongings.

Josebil said they brought the body of Alona to Saint Francis Funeral Homes along National Bacalso Avenue.

Josebil added when the wake of Alona was in the Saint Francis, Jade Ecleo-Villaruman, a sister of Ruben, went there thrice and asked if they can bring the body of Alona to Dinagat Island, which is the bailiwick of the Ecleo family.

The Bacolod family did not to the request of Villaruman and they even asked the assistance of the police.

Judge Soliver Peras has scheduled an ocular inspection of the house of Ecleo in Banawa after the rebuttal of the parricide case. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)