Should city pay for Alona's DNA analysis?

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama is questioning a proposed measure that asks the city to foot the bill for the completion of the DNA analysis of the late Alona Bacolod-Ecleo.

Rama during yesterday afternoon's regular session of the city council raised questions as to why the city government would have to shoulder such kind of expenses when it should be part of the obligations of the Department of Justice, it being in relation to the administration of justice.

Presented to the city council yesterday was the proposed resolution of councilors Gerardo Carillo and Sylvan Jakosalem covering the appropriation of P150,000 to be charged to the city's Pagcor funds share as financial aid for the additional expenses for the DNA analysis of Alona.

The proposed measure was approved but with minor amendments, that is, the matter should not be treated as financial assistance because it needs a memorandum of agreement between the recipient organization and the city government but rather as "payment" for the DNA analysis.

Carillo justified there is a need for the city government to shell out funds for this purpose considering that it is a case involving domestic violence, one of the major concerns that the city government is giving importance.

"We have to find out whether the cadaver found in Dalaguete town in 2002 is that of Alona's. If it's not, then just the same we have to take that risk of paying for the DNA analysis just to deliver justice," Carillo told reporters.

The Bacolod Family had earlier sought for financial assistance in seeking for justice over the death of their sister Alona, who was strangled to death allegedly by her husband, former mayor of San Jose, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte and Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association leader Ruben Ecleo Jr, in January of 2002.

The city council had already set aside a total of P240,000 for this purpose.

Last June 22, the city council also adopted the proposed resolution of councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe Jr., setting aside P50,000 funds for the same purpose.

Aside from this, the city government had in the past granted P40,000 for the same purpose but the said amount was not enough because phase 1 of the process already costs P40,000, as shown in the statement of account faxed by the National Science Research Institute of the University of the Philippines that conducted the DNA analysis.

Jakosalem said the whole procedure costs around P300,000 but UP also "did its share" and charged only P250,000 instead.