Ecleo lawyer: No bribery attempts

CEBU, Philippines - The defense counsel of the celebrated parricide case against Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association supreme master Ruben Ecleo Jr. has denied the alleged attempts to bribe the complainants to withdraw the case.

Lawyer Orlando Salatandre said they do not need to resort to bribing the surviving Bacolod siblings because the case against his client is not strong.

Salatandre said the prosecution did not have enough evidence against Ecleo because the body dumped in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete has not been identified.

 “Unsa pa may ariglohon nga ang ebidensiya sa prosecution kulang man gyud wa man nila ma-identify ang patay’ng lawas,” Salatandre said over dyLA.

The prosecution claimed the recovered body was that of Alona Bacolod Ecleo, wife of the accused. Ecleo has been accused of murdering her seven years ago.

Salatandre also explained that even if the Bacolod siblings, Ricky and Niño, would execute an affidavit of desistance, the case will continue. He also said there is no reason to ask for the settlement because the prosecution has already rested its case.

In fact, Salatandre said the defense is also about to conclude its presentation of evidence. “Kung sa pelikula pa ni naa na ni sa katapusan.”

Salatandre said the bribery report could have come from the people who wanted to make the accused appear guilty before the public.

Thelma Chiong, president of the Crusade Against Violence, revealed the other day that the Bacolod siblings were reportedly offered P4 million, educational assistance, house and lot and relocation to Masbate if they agree to drop the case against Ecleo.

   The offer was allegedly done to a relative of the Bacolods by unidentified persons whom Chiong believed are members of the PBMA.

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras, who earlier barred the media from covering the resumption of trial of the Ecleo case, has required members of the media to submit a picture to him for them to be allowed to cover the hearing.

Peras told a member of the Media Alliance for Law Liberty Equality and Truth (Mallet), the reporters’ organization covering the Justice beat, that the list of the names which was agreed during a dialogue initiated by Executive Judge Mienrado Paredes is not enough.

He required the reporters to submit a 2x2 picture allegedly for security purposes. It was not known if he will also require the same to other people who will witness the trial.

RTC Judge Gabriel Ingles, RTC spokesperson, said it is no longer necessary for the reporters to submit their pictures since they have their press card issued by their respective media outlets.

Ingles assured the reporters that he and Paredes will talk to Peras about it. Mallet has already brought the matter before the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists.

CFBJ President Elias Baquero said he will call an emergency meeting of the federation officials on Saturday to discuss the issue and to possibly bring the matter before the Cebu Citizens Press Council. — Fred P. Languido/LPM   (FREEMAN NEWS)