Ecleo prosecutor’s brod used to be active in cult

CEBU CITY — The prosecution panel in the murder case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. appeared to sink further into jeopardy the other day.

A day after the defense panel announced that it would be calling two prosecutors to testify on behalf of Ecleo who is facing charges for last year’s killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod, a third prosecutor was found to have had indirect ties with the leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).

Prosecutor Tolomeo Dinoy reportedly has a brother who used to be a ranking officer of the PBMA, whose members consider Ecleo to be their supreme leader.

The information has left lead prosecutor Jose Pedrosa in a situation where he might be forced to consider asking Dinoy to inhibit himself from the case.

As soon as it got the information, the Crusade Against Violence-Visayas chapter said it was considering asking the court to do just that.

The group’s vice president, Thelma Chiong, said they have long heard about the matter but only got it confirmed the other day.

Pedrosa insisted though that he still believes in the professionalism of his prosecutors and volunteered the information that it was Dinoy himself who told him about his brother’s former ties with the PBMA.

Pedrosa, however, also expressed concern about the public backlash the information is expected to generate.

"This is not an ordinary case. I have to think of it very deeply because I don’t want to destroy the enthusiasm of the prosecution. I believe these fiscals are all professionals. The momentum that we have already gained should not be slackened," he said.

Dinoy appeared unperturbed by the development, saying he is leaving it up to Pedrosa to decide whether he should continue prosecuting the Ecleo case or not.

He admitted telling Pedrosa of his brother’s affiliation with the PBMA to preempt speculations of him being biased if the information surfaced from other sources.

He said he is willing to step down if Pedrosa so decides. But he insisted he could prosecute the case fairly and professionally.

He added that he is concerned about his brother’s family and does not want to "jeopardize" their safety. He did not elaborate.

Dinoy said his brother was once very active with the PBMA as its regional head.

During the pre-trial of the case last Thursday, the defense panel caught the prosecution by surprise when lead defense attorney Orlando Salatandre told the court that he would be presenting Pedrosa and prosecutor Jesus Feliciano as his first witnesses.

Salatandre made the move in line with his bid to have the case dismissed for lack of evidence. — Freeman News Service