Promulgation rescheduled to next week

CEBU, Philippines - Because of voluminous records, Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court Branch 10 again moved the scheduled promulgation of the parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr.

The promulgation was scheduled today but Peras, in his one-page order, moved the promulgation to April 13, 2012.

Reportedly, Peras is still in the process of finalizing the decision of the case.

Ecleo is accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod Ecleo, whose body was found dumped in Dalaguete town in 2002.

Earlier, Peras tentatively set the promulgation of the case on December 16, 2011 after the defense rested their case. However, it was moved to February 16, 2012 then February 29, 2012 then April 3, 2012 then April 13, 2012.

In the memorandum submitted by the prosecution they asked the court for the conviction of Ecleo saying the testimony of Josebil Bacolod, a brother of Alona, was strong enough to convict Ecleo.

Josebil testified that he was inside Ecleo’s house in Forest Hills, Barangay Banawa, Cebu City, last January 5, 2002 when he heard Alona asking for help from the master’s bedroom.

He added he rushed to the room where he saw Ecleo shirtless and drenched in sweat.

However, in the memorandum submitted by the defense counsels Giovanni Mata and Orlando Salatandre Jr., they asked for Ecleo’s acquittal for the failure of the prosecution to establish the guilt of the accused.

“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,” they said.

The prosecution presented 24 witnesses while the defense presented nine witnesses, including Ecleo.

Ecleo denied the accusations saying his wife left their house and never returned.

He also said he went to his hometown in Dinagat Island, near Surigao del Norte, to look for Alona but she was not there.

The case has passed from one judge to another. The other judges who handled the Ecleo case before Peras were Galicano Arriesgado, who issued the original warrant for Ecleo’s arrest; Olegario Sarmiento, who denied the motion to quash it; Generosa Labra, who granted him bail; Anacleto Caminade, who signed the release order; and Ireneo Gako Jr., who was the first to begin hearing the case with Ecleo out of jail and Geral-dine Faith Econg. (FREEMAN)