Change fiscals in Ecleo case, CIDG urges

CEBU CITY — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has asked the city prosecutor’s office to change the panel of prosecutors handling the Ecleo murder case.

Diocos said he received negative feedback about some prosecutors handling the case and expressed apprehension that it might affect the investigation.

Ruben Ecleo Jr., a former mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte and "divine master" of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, is the principal suspect in the killing of his wife, 27-year-old Alona Bacolod Ecleo.

Alona was found dead, her body inside a garbage bag bound by masking tape, at the bottom of a ravine in Dalaguete town last Jan. 8.

The panel investigating the case is composed of prosecutors Jesus Feliciano, Ma. Luisa Buenaventura and Gilbert Moises.

Diocos, however, clarified that he is not trying to question the capability of the prosecutors and that he issued the call to avoid controversy, like what happened in the arrest of suspected Hong Kong triad members.

Diocos said it would be best if the panel will be composed of prosecutors from the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu.

City prosecutor Jose Pedrosa, in a report over TV Patrol Cebu, however, rejected Diocos’ request.

As this developed, Diocos said he submitted a report to the CIDG central office about the alleged attempt of SPO1 Alex Buray of CIDG-Cagayan to interfere in the police investigation against Ecleo.

Diocos said Buray allegedly contacted a city policeman and suggested he destroy the evidence against Ecleo.

Buray is a relative of Ecleo’s mother, Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo, Diocos said. — Freeman News Service