Ecleo challenged by uncle in poll bid

SURIGAO CITY — What local observers believe could be a virtual victory for jailed cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. in the mayoral polls in San Jose, Surigao del Norte has run into some kinks.

The reason: Ecleo’s own uncle, Domingo, 57, beat the deadline and filed his certificate of candidacy to challenge him in his bid to become San Jose mayor again.

Domingo is a brother of Ecleo’s father, Ruben Sr., who founded the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) 40 years ago, and former governor Moises Ecleo.

Domingo is running under the banner of jailed former President Joseph Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), which has joined the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino of opposition presidential standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr.

Domingo’s line-up is composed of political neophytes and former barangay chairmen, whose supporters are mostly former PBMA members who were disgruntled with Ecleo’s leadership.

Ecleo, who is locked up in Cebu City to face trial for the killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod, is the supreme leader of the PBMA.

Ecleo is running under the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats), to which Sen. Robert Barbers, his family’s close ally, belongs.

The PBMA is said to be supporting President Arroyo in the upcoming presidential elections.

Ecleo Sr. was well-respected and adored by the residents of San Jose, one of four towns on Dinagat Island, even revered as a "reincarnation" of Jose Rizal and Jesus Christ rolled into one. He was the town’s first mayor.

After his death, the PBMA reportedly disintegrated, even affecting the relationships among the Ecleo siblings when Ecleo Jr. and his mother, Rep. Glenda Ecleo, took over the reins of the group, according to the local opposition.

Ecleo Sr.’s brothers Moises and Domingo and some relatives, who led the PBMA breakaway group, now comprise the local opposition.

The PBMA has used hard-boiled eggs — shaped like "zeros" — to symbolize their efforts to defeat opposition candidates, both local and national (including Poe), in Dinagat.

On election day, PBMA members will reportedly bring hard-boiled eggs to polling precincts to call for "zero votes" for the opposition.

Meanwhile, the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino chapter in Surigao del Norte has complained to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) about alleged continuing harassment and "psywar tactics" of local policemen against its candidates.

In a letter to Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., the PMP called for the immediate transfer of all police personnel directly or indirectly engaging in partisan politics.

In the May 2001 elections, the local opposition filed charges against certain policemen for allegedly aiding their rivals in terrorizing them.

The provincial police, led by Senior Superintendent Ricky Nerbez, however, denied the accusations, saying they were merely doing their job to maintain peace and order in the province.