'Ecleo likely to be dropped from House rolls'

MANILA, Philippines - Dinagat Islands Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. is likely to be dropped from the rolls of the House of Representatives as soon as the court issues a warrant for his arrest for the killing of his wife, according to Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III.

Ecleo, leader of the religious group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, is facing charges of parricide for killing his wife Alona Bacolod in 2002.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the House is not going to get involved in the serving of the arrest warrant on Ecleo.

It is a criminal matter that has nothing to do with legislative work, he added.

The Cebu regional trial court ordered yesterday the arrest of Ecleo after he failed to attend three consecutive hearings on the parricide case against him.

The judge also canceled the P1-million bail for his temporary liberty.

The judge ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group in the CARAGA Region to implement the warrant of arrest against Ecleo. The motion to reset trial of the parricide case filed by Ecleo through his counsel Orlando Salatandre last Monday was denied by the court.

The judge said he has no other remedy but to cancel the bail of Ecleo.

However, Salatandre said they will file a motion for reconsideration of the court’s decision to cancel the bail of Ecleo.

He claimed he did not know the whereabouts of Ecleo.

On March 1, 2004, the court allowed Ecleo to post a P1-million bail due to his heart ailment. Ecleo was convicted of graft on Oct. 13, 2006, and the Sandiganbayan has issued a warrant for his arrest.