5 members of Bacolod family out of DOJ protection program

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has terminated the witness protection security that the DOJ is extending to the five of the six members of the Bacolod family.

De Lima ordered the termination, which took effect June 1, 2011, in a memorandum dated April 13, 2011.

According to de Lima, the five witnesses against Dinagat Representative Ruben Ecleo, Jr. have completed their testimonies and that the threats to their lives have reduced to minimum level.

Prosecutor Llena Ipong of DOJ’s witness protection program said de Lima terminated the security protection for the Bacolods as only one of them is needed in the rebuttal of the parricide case filed against Ecleo.

Ecleo, the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, was charged with killing his wife, Alona Bacolod, in January 2002. He maintained his innocence of the charge.

Ipong said there were six prosecution witnesses who are under the DOJ’s witness protection. Because of de Lima’s order, Ipong said only Josebil Bacolod will continue to be under the protection of the DOJ.

Josebil had testified in court that before her sister was killed, he heard her shout for help from the master’s bedroom of the couple’s house in Banawa, Guadalupe, Cebu City during an alleged fight.

“I stay in the house of my sister Alona in Banawa as she offered me to stay there… and on January 4 and 5, 2002 I was inside their house and knew what’s going on in there,” Josebil said.

However, Ipong said the five witnesses can appeal de Lima’s decision if there are still threats to their lives.

“They can appeal, they will have to re-assess their threat… assessment and ask for help of their lawyers,” Ipong said.

She explained that in fact, the five witnesses can write a letter to de Lima or ask for help from prosecution counsel Alfredo Sipalay.

Ipong mentioned that in March, Josebil received full security following reports that two persons were seen following him. Josebil was then transferred to a safe house.

The six prosecution witnesses were placed under the witness protection program since the case was elevated to the court. — /LPM (FREEMAN)