Ecleo to surface next week, won't resist arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Dinagat Islands Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. will surface next week and will not resist arrest if lawmen serve the arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan, his lawyer said yesterday.

Ecleo was convicted for anomalous construction deals during his term as mayor of San Jose town from 1991 to 1994.

“No more bloodshed at this time, Rep. Ecleo will not resist arrest,” lawyer Jose Ventrua Aspiras told The STAR yesterday at a forum at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

Aspiras was referring to the June 2004 incident during which 23 people, mostly children and women, were killed when armed supporters of Ecleo engaged lawmen in a fierce firefight. The lawmen were serving an arrest warrant in connection with the murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod.

The decomposing body of Alona was discovered in a black trash bag in a roadside ravine in Dalaguete, Cebu, in January 2000.

Ecleo reportedly killed Alona because of her constant nagging him about his addiction to shabu.

Ecleo’s lawyer said the congressman would avail of legal remedies and would still report to the House of Representatives to perform his legislative functions.

Aspiras also said the arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan cannot yet be served because of a pending petition.

He said they have filed a motion for the recall of Ecleo’s arrest warrant pending a review of the decision convicting him of graft charges.

“If the warrant is served, then we will file a habeas corpus petition before the court,” Aspiras said.