Ecleo lawyer wants records from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The defense counsel of Ruben Ecleo Jr. in his graft case before the Sandiganbayan has asked copies of his medical records from the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City that hears his parricide case.

Atty. Democrito Barcenas, the prosecution lawyer in the parricide case, said two motions have been filed before RTC Branch 10 precided by Judge Soliver Peras.

“There were two motions filed…I forgot the motions particularly but they are asking for the medical records of Ecleo,” Barcenas said.

Ecleo has a pending warrant of arrest before the Sandiganbayan after the Supreme Court (SC) affirmed his conviction for his alleged involvement in three anomalous construction projects during his stint as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Island from 1991 to 1994.

Barcenas said they will file a formal motion to oppose the motions. He said the motions are immaterial to the parricide case, considering that both parties have rested their cases and are now awaiting decision from the court.

“We, with Atty. Kit Enriquez, oppose it because its immaterial…why not produce Ecleo for hospitalization instead of getting a copy from the RTC?” he said.

Even Atty. Orlando Salatandre, Ecleo’s lawyer in the parricide case, is said to be unaware of the motions filed by his client’s other lawyers.

“Atty. Salatandre, during the hearing of the motions last Friday, claimed he don’t know (anything) about the motions,” Barcenas said.

The two motions will be heard next month.

Meanwhile, Barcenas said the prosecution is set to file its memorandum on the parricide case by next week, at the latest, to comply with the court order before the promulgation of the case.

In its own memorandum, the defense sought for Ecleo’s acquittal in the parricide case.

Lawyers Salatandre and Giovanni Mata stated the prosecution failed to establish the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of Ecleo.

“It should be remembered that the rules of credence apply more strictly in criminal cases because the degree of proof required to make a conviction is proof beyond reasonable doubt,” the memorandum reads.

Ecleo has been tagged as mastermind in the killing of his wife Alona Bacolod in 2002.     - (THE FREEMAN)