Ecleo's bail to be cancelled if he fails to attend hearing

Private prosecutor Fritz Quiñanola, who represents the Bacolod family in the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo, yesterday warned that if the cult leader fails to appear in the hearing on July 28, his P1 million bail would be cancelled.

"Well, mo-attend g'yud siya (Ecleo) kay automatically ma-cancel man ang iyang bond" Quiñanola said.

Ecleo failed to appear in the last hearing in which Dr. Generoso Matiga testified that he is physically fit to go back to jail.

"Sa last hearing ako man gi-question nganong wa man motunga si Ecleo, pero nananghid man daan nga dili makalabang tungod sa bagyo, mao ni-OK na lang ko. Ug wala gyud maayo nga katarungan di gyud siya motunga, under our procedure madali gyud ang pagbalhog niya sa prisohan" Quiñanola said.

Ecleo was the primary suspect in the killing of his wife Alona Bacolod-Ecleo in 2002.

Quiñanola said one of the requirements to post bail is for Ecleo to attend the hearing. "If he (Ecleo) will not attend we will be asking the court to cancel the bail ug ipabalhog siya."

Quiñanola said defense counsel Orlando Salatandre has assured that

Ecleo will not resort to taking up arms once the court orders for his arrest if he fails to attend the hearing.

"They've learned their lesson (that) it's counter productive on the part of Ecleo kun mosukol sila once ipadakop na si Ecleo, ug nipasalig man sad sila. Quiñanola said. - Ramil V. Ayuman