Over death of wife 10 years ago Ecleo guilty

CEBU, Philippines - Controversial Dinagat Representative Ruben Ecleo Jr. was found guilty of parricide for the death of his wife, Alona Bacolod Ecleo, ten years ago, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison yesterday.

Alona's body was found in a deep ravine in the southern town of Dalaguete on January 8, 2002, three days after she disappeared from the couple's home in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. 

In a 200-page decision, Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras meted Ecleo the penalty of reclusion perpetua after finding him guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The court awarded at least P26 million in damages to Alona's family. It ordered Ecleo to pay P200,000 in exemplary damages; P200,000 in moral damages; P200,000 in attorney's fees; and P50,000 in temperate damages aside from the P25.650 million in compensatory damages.

The case took ten years and six judges to be resolved.

The reading of the decision started at 5:17 p.m., a delay of two hours and 17 minutes from the 3 p.m. schedule. The delay was due to the printing of the decision.

Ecleo, the Supreme Master for the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), is still in hiding, evading an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan over a graft case. 

He was arrested and jailed at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, now the Cebu City Jail, from June 2002 to April 2004, when he was released after the court granted him bail because of his heart ailment. His bail was set at P1 million

 After the reading of the decision, private prosecutor Fritz Quiñanola was heard saying "Alleluia" while Alona's brothers said "Praise God."   Alona's brother, Angelito, cried after hearing the verdict.

Some PBMA members, who refused to be named, said they accept the decision of the court. "The decision of the court has already been planned by him (Ecleo)."

Alona's other brother, Josebil, said he is very happy that Ecleo has been finally convicted for his sister's death.

He stressed that Alona would be finally at peace along with their parents and other sibling, who were murdered on June 19, 2002.

Josebil said he was very thankful that he was at the couple's home on January 5, 2002 when he heard his sister asking for help.

He recalled that when he went to the couple's bedroom, he saw Ecleo go out shirtless and was sweating. He remembered Ecleo giving him a strange and angry look.

Josebil then saw Ecleo and an aide carrying something wrapped in a black garbage bag and putting it into the compartment of Ecleo's car.

During trial, Ecleo denied Josebil's allegations and said that there was no commotion inside the master's bedroom.

He said he never saw Josebil in their house the week before Alona disappeared.

He said if Josebil was in their house at that time of the crime, it would be impossible for him to hear the commotion because his quarter was 16 meters away from the master's bedroom.

But in his decision, Judge Peras noted the testimonies of Josebil.

He also gave weight to the testimony of Gloria Navaja, who saw Alona's body thrown into a ravine in Barangay Corro, Dalaguete.

Peras pointed out that alibi was the weakest defense in the case and gave credence to Navaja's testimony.

The judge said it was not impossible for Ecleo to be in Dalaguete to throw Alona's body since he has a car and a driver.

He also pointed out Ecleo's failure to look for his wife when Alona disappeared.

"His hasty departure was an indication of guilt," Peras said his decision.

Private prosecutor Alfredo Sipalay said the court's decision was a relief.

“The case has finally been resolved. We are very happy. It is an answered prayer. Many were praying for Ecleo's conviction."

Ecleo's lawyer Orlando Salatandre said they would appeal the decision before the Court of Appeals.

He questioned Peras' decision, saying the burden of proof seems to be on the defense when in fact it lies in the prosecution to prove Ecleo's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.— With Hector Paolo Diang /LPM (FREEMAN)