Alleged bribe-takers reassigned outside Cebu

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman is facing a major problem in its investigation into allegations that jailed cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. has given money to personnel of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) here.

This, as most of the alleged recipients of bribes have been reassigned to other places.

BBRC jail warden Nestor Velasquez met with Ombudsman Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago the other day and informed her that majority of jail personnel who had attended to Ecleo in the past months have been reassigned to other places outside Cebu.

Santiago quoted Velasquez as saying that the reassignment of jail personnel to other places is a normal procedure.

Despite this, Santiago is still optimistic that they can push through with the investigation, since a supervisor at the facility, a certain Inspector Emmanuel Manawag, is still at the BBRC and might be able to give them vital information on the matter.

Santiago said she will go to the city jail on Dec. 12 and will personally talk to Ecleo in the hope that the jailed supreme leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, facing trial for his wife’s killing, would cooperate in the investigation.

Santiago said the investigation they are conducting is actually beneficial to BBRC personnel who are not involved in the controversy.

She said the issue has created a public perception that BBRC personnel can be bribed. The investigation, she said, would clear the names of those who were not involved.

Among those in the list earlier submitted to the Ombudsman were personnel with ranks ranging from jail officer to superintendent.

Santiago earlier said they would "confront" those in the list to determine who among them allegedly received bribes. — Freeman News Service