Court inspects Ecleo's Banawa house anew

CEBU, Philippines - After almost a decade since the court first conducted an ocular inspection of the house of Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. in Forest Hills Banawa, Cebu City, the court yesterday inspected the house again.

This is in relation to the on going trial of the parricide case against Ecleo, who is accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod.

Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras, who is now handling the case after the previous judges have been asked to inhibit by either the defense and the prosecution, has personally inspected the master’s bedroom where Alona was allegedly murdered by the accused.

Ecleo was not around yesterday as he is on hiding after the court ordered his arrest following his failure to appear in the past court hearings. Peras cancelled Ecleo’s P1 million bail bond.

On top of the arrest warrant for parricide, Ecleo is also facing another arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan after he was convicted of graft and corruption.

It was Ecleo’s sister, Mayor Gwendolyn Ecleo of Dinagat, who accompanied Peras and the other parties of the case during yesterday’s inspection.

Private prosecutor Alfredo Sipalay said the ocular inspection was necessary for the court to appreciate better the testimonies of prosecution witness Josebil Bacolod.

Josebil told the court that he heard his sister Alona asking for help from the master’s bedroom on January 5, 2002. Josebil said he rushed to the room where he saw Ecleo shirtless and drenched in sweat.

The house was also inspected by RTC Judge Generosa Labra before who was the first judge handle the case. She was later asked to inhibit by the prosecution after she allowed Ecleo to post bail for humanitarian consideration.

Ecleo then claimed to be a “walking time bomb” because of his heart condition. — (FREEMAN)