EDITORIAL - Finding Ecleo

Despite the increased reward for his capture, Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo is still elusive as ever. The authorities are still facing a blank wall as to his whereabouts almost a year after the Sandiganbayan released a warrant for his arrest for graft, and months after his conviction for killing his wife 10 years ago.

Even a high-ranking police official admitted that they are having difficulty locating the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association. Samuel Pagdilao, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said they rely on information from the public in their efforts to arrest Ecleo.

As cult leader and politician, Ecleo is a well-known personality whose family holds a huge clout in Northern Mindanao. Now a fugitive, he is part of the Big Four, which is composed of high-profile renegades such as former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and former Army general Jovito Palparan.

 The authorities may have been expecting public cooperation given the increased reward. But considering Ecleo’s unprecedented influence among his followers, especially in Mindanao where he is treated like a god, it remains to be seen whether the financial reward would help.    

 However, given his public standing, it should have been easy for the police to locate Ecleo. If the authorities are capable of finding and arresting ordinary wanted criminals, there’s really no reason why a fugitive as well known as the cult leader cannot be located and arrested.

 Unless of course he is already hiding in a foreign land, as unconfirmed reports said he already slipped out of the country, the long arms of the law should have already been closing in on Ecleo.                 

 The police should exert all efforts to capture Ecleo, who was responsible for one of the most brutal killings that shocked Cebuanos. As we have said before, his conviction was not enough to compensate the life of his own wife that he took. He is still a free man. Justice can only be served once he is arrested and put behind bars.