Ecleo no-show at hearing on judge’s inhibition

CEBU CITY — Despite formal summons, cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. failed to appear in Friday’s hearing of the prosecution’s motion to inhibit Regional Trial Court Judge Anacleto Caminade from handling Ecleo’s parricide case.

Private prosecutor Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco questioned why Ecleo was not in the courtroom despite having been formally summoned by the court to attend the proceeding.

The court wanted to see if, despite his being free on bail, Ecleo would stand firm on his promise that he would appear in court if summoned.

But Ecleo’s counsel Orlando Salatandre explained that Ecleo was not able to attend the hearing because he was still confined at the Makati Medical Center.

Salatandre showed a certification issued by cardiologist Roberto Anastacio urging that Ecleo be excused from any court activities.

Ecleo was admitted to the Makati Medical Center from April 22 to May 7 after he was flown from Cebu following his release on P1-million bail from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.

Salatandre admitted that Ecleo went home to Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte for about three days but he was re-admitted to the Makati Medical Center before the May 10 elections to undergo cardiac catherization with coronary arteriogram.

"I am suggesting strongly that he be excused from attending any legal activities at this time, (he being) in continuous medical surveillance for about two weeks and (has) to be re-evaluated for a long-time treatment," Anastacio said.

Ecleo is the principal suspect in the murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod, whose body was found stuffed in a garbage bag in a ravine in Dalaguete town two years ago. — Freeman News Service