House drops Ecleo from rolls

Manila, Philippines -  Dinagat Islands Rep. Ruben Ecleo has been officially dropped from the rolls of the House of Representatives after the Supreme Court (SC) upheld his conviction on various cases of graft, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

Belmonte signed an order before he left for abroad on Thursday, directing House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II to delete from the chamber’s roster, effective immediately, the name of Ecleo, who has been in hiding since 2010.

Last April 13, the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 sentenced Ecleo to 40 years in jail for killing his wife Alona in 2002.

Ecleo was also ordered to pay the family of his slain wife P25.62 million.

The fugitive is leader of the cultish Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.

Last February, the SC denied with finality Ecleo’s appeal to reverse a Sandiganbayan decision sentencing him to 31 years in prison for graft and corruption.

The Speaker said the SC has upheld the Sandiganbayan’s conviction of the former congressman on at least three cases of violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act “in which perpetual disqualification from office forms part of the penalty.”

He said Ecleo’s lawyers made another appeal to the SC but it was not likely to be granted.

“The final appeal in the third case looked pro forma to us with scant chance of being granted,” Belmonte said in a text message.

Gonzales said no special elections will be held for Ecleo’s replacement.

Lawmakers have urged those who may have information on Ecleo’s whereabouts to inform authorities.