Solon says wanted son using drugs

SURIGAO CITY — Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo admitted yesterday that her fugitive son, Ruben Ecleo Jr. was into drugs.

Ecleo told Bombo Radyo in a live interview that she was blaming drugs for the mess that her son is now in.

This came as authorities offered a P100,000 bounty for young Ecleo’s capture after failing to arrest him in several attempts.

The young Ecleo, supreme leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), has been hiding from police authorities since the Regional Trial Court in Cebu issued a warrant for 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, Cebu last January.

Congresswoman Ecleo said she was terribly dismayed over her son’s fate, saying he was supposed to follow the footsteps of his father and namesake who founded the PBMA in 1960 with only 12 members.

The PBMA, which refuses to be called a cult or a religious organization, claims a membership of three million worldwide, with central office at the island town of San Jose, Surigao del Norte.

Congresswoman Ecleo told arresting policemen that her son was no longer at San Jose island.

"How can I surrender him when he is not around?" she said.

She had earlier promised authorities to surrender her son early this week, only to change her mind. She said that some PBMA followers did not want him to surrender.

Ecleo said her son left three days ago and had sent her a letter saying he did not expect to get justice under the present justice system, while claiming innocence in the death of his wife.

Supt. Edwin Diocos, however, insisted that Ecleo Jr. is still in the island hiding in one of the houses of his relatives or loyal PBMA members.

Diocos expressed confidence that the joint military, police and Airforce operatives would eventually get Ecleo Jr.

With the reported escape of Ecleo Jr., Caraga police regional director Alberto Rama Olario announced a P100,000 bounty for anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of Ecleo Jr.

Critics, however, claimed it was too late for the operatives to locate Ecleo Jr. They said that if the operatives wanted to, they could have arrested him last April after Cebu RTC Judge Oligario Sarmiento issued a warrant.

Meanwhile, two PBMA members were arrested by Diocos yesterday morning at the hotel lobby in Surigao City where police operatives are staying.

Diocos identified those arrested as Antonio Labina and Cristituto Medallo, both from San Jose, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte.

Medallo is the chairman of the San Jose Association of Barangay Captains.

A .38 cal. pistol was found in Labina’s possession.