Ecleo: My wife is alive

CEBU, Philippines - Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr., the prime suspect in the alleged killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, believes that the she is still alive, but missing.

“Paminaw nako buhi pa,” Ecleo said when asked by prosecution lawyer Democrito Barcenas whether his wife is still alive after nine years.

Barcenas showed Ecleo a copy of Alona’s death certificate but said he was not informed by his lawyer about it.

Ecleo, the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association admitted that he last saw his wife on January 5, 2002.

Ecleo also said that he did not file in court a judicial declaration of absence, as he was not advised to do so.

An aggrieved party can file such judicial action two years after a person is reported missing.

It did not come to his knowledge also to publish in a newspaper the photograph of his missing wife.

He added that from January 5 to 6, 2002 he did not go home as he was busy attending the needs of his members in Nonoc, Talisay Chapter and in Lapu-Lapu City.

He added that on January 7, 2002 went he went home to their residence, he tried to call up Alona’s cellular phone, but it just kept on ringing and nobody answered.

Ecleo, Jr., during his direct testimony last month refuted and belied all the allegations that he killed his wife, on January 5, 2002 in their residence in Forest Hills, Banawa, Cebu City.

During his direct testimony, a photograph of a dead woman believed to be that of Alona was also shown to Ecleo and he said that the woman in the photo is not his wife as the woman has bulging fingers while Alona has small fingers.

Ruben added that based on the medico-legal findings, the woman in the picture is described to be 165 centimeters or 5 feet and five inches tall while Alona is only about five feet to 5-1 tall.

In yesterday’s cross-examination, Ecleo said Alona left their residence on January 5, 2002 telling him that she was attending a post New Year’s party celebration and she will be accompanied by her brother, Ben Bacolod.

Ben Bacolod, who was believed to be the only witness in the murder of his sister, however, was killed in June 2002 at his home in Mandaue City together with his parents Elpidio and Rosalia and sister Evelyn by a lone gunman, who was killed shortly after the massacre by responding policemen.

Barcenas said that during Ecleo’s direct testimony, he said that Alona was out for a beach party and now he is saying that the latter is attending a belated New Year’s party.

Ecleo further testified that he is not so worried that Alona could not be found for two days as he is already used to this since his wife would leave their house for five to six days and would return.

The body of a woman, believed to be Alona was found dumped in the town of Dalaguete a few days after she was allegedly missing. It was stuffed inside a black garbage bag and dumped on the side of the road.

It was found out in the autopsy that the victim died of strangulation.

Ecleo surrendered to police authorities last June 19, 2002 after a bloody gunfight between law enforcers and PBMA followers that killed 23 people when police went to serve his warrant of arrest in San Jose town in Dinagat Island.

On March 1, 2004, Ruben posted a P1million bail before RTC Branch 23 presiding judge Generosa Labra after his lawyer presented medical results showing that he has a heart ailment.

Ecleo is set to testify again on January 26 for the continuation of his cross-examination. — /NLQ  (FREEMAN)