‘Big-time pols backing Ecleos’

SURIGAO CITY — Justice will elude alleged victims of Ruben Ecleo Jr., detained "supreme master" of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), because big-time politicians are supporting the Ecleo family, the left-wing National Democratic Front (NDF) said.

In a statement, NDF-Caraga spokesman Ella Magbanua denounced Ruben’s mother, Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo, for allegedly exerting her political influence in covering up her son’s sins and denying to the very end that he was not a drug user.

Ruben is facing parricide charges for the death of his wife Alona Bacolod whose decomposing body was found in a ravine in Cebu last January.

Charges of illegal possession of illegal drugs have also been filed against him after shabu was found in his things when he was brought from Manila to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center in Cebu City.

Ruben surrendered last June 19 after a night of bloody fighting between law enforcers and armed PBMA followers on Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte where he was a former mayor, resulting in the deaths of 23 people.

The NDF-Caraga bewailed that while the Ecleos live in a mansion and enjoy an extravagant lifestyle, their followers are wallowing in poverty and incurring huge debts.

The Ecleos, it said, are living pampered lives because of contributions from PBMA members and money from politicians.

The NDF-Caraga likened the PBMA to the dreaded Ilagas, the Pulahans, Tadtads and other armed cultist groups which, it alleged, were funded and motivated by the military for counter-insurgency activities.

The group alleged that the Barbers’ political clan revived the Ecleos’ political clout in the 2001 elections by helping Rep. Ecleo win the congressional race in Surigao del Norte.

The NDF accused Ruben and members of his alleged "White Eagle" armed group of killing 11 PBMA followers on Dec. 13, 2000.