Ecleo promises to bring son for DNA sampling

Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Econg finally convinced Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association supreme master and parricide suspect Ruben Ecleo Jr. to bring his 12-year-old son before the court to testify over his refusal to undergo a DNA sampling.

This after, Ecleo and his lawyer, Orlando Salatandre, had strongly objected the move subjecting Ludwig Van Ecleo to the DNA sampling because it might further traumatize the child.

But National Bureau Investigation forensic expert Idabelle Pagulayan said the DNA samples from one of Ecleo's children are necessary to determine whether they match with those of a female corpse found in barangay Coro, Dalaguete, three years ago.

The body, which was stuffed in a black garbage bag, was thought to be that of Ecleo's wife, Alona Bacolod, who was killed in January 2002.

The PBMA leader, who is accused of killing his wife, promised to bring his eldest son to the court on Monday noon after the judge threatened to order the boy's arrest if he would insist on barring his child to appear.

Econg decided to take her lunch late yesterday just to attend Ludwig's DNA sampling scheduled at 12:30 p.m., but the boy just sent a handwritten letter explaining his refusal to comply with the subpoena.

In his letter, the boy explained that the DNA sampling might give him a "negative publicity." But Econg insisted that the boy should appear before the court in order for her to determine whether it was really his decision to refuse to attend.

The prosecution lawyers, who composed of Agustine Vestil Jr., Fritz Quiñanola, Alfredo Sipalay and Kit Enriquez, said the defense just wanted to delay the proceedings, but Salatandre strongly denied the allegation.

It would take a month for the NBI forensics expert to come up with concrete findings from the DNA samples taken from the corpse and those extracted from Ecleo and his child.

Once Ludwig appears before the court on Monday, he would be brought to the judge's chamber for questioning about his reason to refuse to undergo the DNA sampling. Only the lawyers from both parties will be present.