On cancellation of passport, Ecleo given 10 days to submit opposition

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has given the camp of former Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. 10 days to comment on the move to cancel the latter’s passport.

 RTC Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras directed Ecleo’s lawyer Jose Ventura Aspiras to submit their comment within the period given to them.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 director Jose Pante earlier asked for the cancellation of the passport of Ecleo to prevent him from leaving the country. Ecleo, supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, has been wanted by law following his conviction in the parricide case and graft charges.

“May we respectfully request that this Honorable Court will direct Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda to cancel the passport of Ecleo and include his name in the DFA’s Lookout List database,” Pante’s request to the court read.

Aspiras said the issue involves the Constitutional right of Ecleo to travel. He said that Ecleo’s conviction in the parricide case is not yet final. Aspiras said they still have a pending motion for reconsideration on the court’s denial of their notice to appeal.

Aspiras hinted that he is duty-bound as lawyer of Ecleo to oppose the request of the CIDG.

But prosecution lawyer Kit Enriquez believes that the CIDG request is useless because of the existing hold departure order issued by the court. Enriquez said Ecleo is already barred from leaving the country even if he has his passport.

The Sandiganbayan earlier issued the hold departure order against Ecleo following his conviction in the graft charges. Aside from his conviction in the Sandiganbayan, Ecleo was also sentenced by Peras to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of killing his wife, Alona, in 2002.— (FREEMAN)