Police set to use force after fugitive son of congresswoman fails to yield

SURIGAO CITY — Last ditch efforts for the peaceful surrender of fugitive Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association supreme leader and divine master Ruben Ecleo Jr. failed, setting the stage for a full scale assault on Dinagat Island today at dawn.

"We will arrest him at all cost," Caraga Police Regional Director Alberto Olario said.

Olario, Sen. Robert Barbers and Surigao del Norte Provincial Police Director Ricky Nerbes met yesterday afternoon at the senator’s house in barangay Lipata, Surigao City to finalize the negotiations for the peaceful and voluntary surrender of Ecleo, the erstwhile mayor of San Jose town in Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte.

Ecleo has been hiding from police authorities after the Regional Trial Court in Cebu issued a warrant against him for his alleged involvement in the killing of his wife Alona Bacolod Ecleo.

Alona, whose body was placed in a black garbage bag, was found in a ravine in Dalaguete town last January.

Olario said that at around 5 p.m. yesterday, Ecleo’s mother, Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo, called and agreed to turn over her son to the police authorities.

Based on the assurance of Rep. Ecleo, Olario said a team was prepared to get Ecleo in San Jose. However, an hour later, Rep. Ecleo called him up again and said that the PBMA membership have changed their minds, opting not to surrender Ecleo.

No specific reasons for backing out was given, except that the members will not allow Ecleo to be turned over to the police authorities, Olario said.

"We have finalized our last option for police action and we will go there and arrest Mayor Ecleo," Olario told Cebu and local reporters.

Olario explained that the PBMA and Ecleo gave the police no resort but to launch the full-scale operation to arrest Ecleo.

"They are making a big mistake in refusing to surrender (Ecleo), they are just inviting a big trouble for the whole PBMA and for Mayor Ecleo," Olario said.

Olario warned that should there be bloodshed in serving the warrant of arrest against Ecleo, the blame should not be on police authorities but on the PBMA members themselves and Rep. Ecleo.

PNP chief Leandro Mendoza, whom Olario spoke to yesterday afternoon through a mobile phone, had already given the Caraga police director the greenlight to take Ecleo by force.

Barbers, who was playing a crucial role in efforts to convince Rep. Ecleo to surrender her son, had already given clearance to Olario to enforce the law, after the negotiations failed.

Although maximum tolerance will be maintained by the police and military authorities in implementing the warrant of arrest, Olario said that should the thousands of PBMA members and Rep. Ecleo resist and obstruct the police they will be forced to strike back.

"We will only shoot to defend ourselves. If we are attacked, we will also fire back," Olario said.

Olario also warned Rep. Ecleo that if she attempts to obstruct the authorities from arresting her son she will be administratively and criminally liable as charges of obstruction of justice and harboring a fugitive will be filed against her.

"We will bring him directly to Cebu, if we arrest him. We assured him of his safety if he surrenders, but, if there is resistance in his arrest, then we cannot assure of his safety. We cannot completely assure [that]," Olario said. — Freeman News Service, Ben Serrano