Is it related to Ecleo parricide case?: Prosecutors get threats via SMS

Members of the prosecution panel of the parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. have been receiving death threats and warnings not to attend their next hearings.

Although, there is no evidence linking it to the case of the cult leader, the lawyers who received such threats have a common denominator - they are part of the prosecution panel of the case against Ecleo.

Lawyer Fritz Quiñanola said that one of them started to receive the threats through a text message last April 24. Quiñanola said that another member of the panel also received threatening text messages last Monday.

At least two different cellular numbers have been used by unknown people in sending threatening text messages to the members of the panel.

Quiñanola said the first threat that they received came last April 24 from mobile phone number 0919-5339633. The most recent threats were from mobile phone number 0918-2963804.

At 11:45 a.m. last Monday, Quiñanola said that they received a message, which read," your life is in my hands, u are incircled with my goons, I pity u, u must be ready every time u go out, especially going in court, I think not a joke."

Another message came from the same number at 11:56 a.m., which stated," ok u look outside somebody is watching u. u try to go out and somebody tailing u, and waiting 4 a good target, u must be d mice and we d cats."

The last message they received was at 3:26 p.m. that day, which said," were sure its u, were ghost, we can see u, u don't see us, u must be ready 2 see St. Peter, u know when you die baby...u must refrain attending our next hearing."

Although they have suspicions that the threats could have something to do with the Ecleo case, Quiñanola refused to tag the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association as responsible for such saying they have no evidence.

Despite the threats, Quiñanola said they would not ask for police escorts.

Quiñanola said, aside from the fact that it is very expensive to maintain a police escort, the people behind the threats would think that they are affected and afraid. He said they have entrusted their lives to God, who the retired police general said is their "armor and protection."

According to Quiñanola, that from the very start when they decided to take over the prosecution of the case after the death of Arbet Sta. Ana Yongco, they knew about the threats. He however said that they have already taken precautionary measures and reported the matter to the police.

Quiñanola said that they have also started investigating to identify the owner of the mobile phone numbers.

Aside from Quiñanola the other lawyers involved in the prosecution are Alfredo Sipalay, Kit Enriquez, Democrito Barcenas, Gina Co and Necitas Ybanez.

They are among the 20 members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, who vowed to continue the unfinished legal battle of Yongco, who was allegedly murdered by members of the PBMA.

Yongco's alleged killers, Michel Favila, Nestor Carol and Heracleo Rallestan, are now charged with murder. Another accused, Edie Ardita, has been discharged and is now a state witness.

The prosecution panel scored recently when the court granted its motion to have Ecleo's health condition re-examined. The prosecution wanted to put Ecleo back in jail believing that he does not appear to be sick anymore based on what they see during court hearings.

Judge Generosa Labra, who used to handle the case, granted the petition for bail of Ecleo on the ground of his serious health condition. Ecleo is free on a P1 million bail.

The said that Ecleo is a "walking time bomb" who may drop dead anytime because of his heart ailment.

Although, the granting of the bail was upheld by the Court of Appeals, this does not restrain the lower court from going back to the issue.

Last week judge Geraldine Faith Econg granted the motion of the prosecution to have Ecleo re-examined by doctors, but the court refused to allow doctors from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Cebu City Medical Center to do the examination.

Econg ordered the prosecution to find an expert in coronary diseases to do the examination. Econg however said she would also allow Ecleo's own doctor to testify and render his opinion in court.

The result of the examination of Ecleo's health would determine if he would be allowed to stay outside or to put him back in the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.