Ecleo parricide case DOJ: No more threats against five witnesses

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Justice witness protection program in Cebu City said there were no unusual incidents reported with the five witnesses against parricide suspect Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr.

Prosecutor Llena Ipong-Avila said the handler assigned to assess the threats of the witnesses under DOJ’s protection submits a report every month and five of the six witnesses have already gone back to living normal lives.

“As far as I know, only Josebil Bacolod, received threats as of last March and the other five witnesses… no unusual incident reported,” Avila said.

However, she said with the reconsideration asked by prosecution lawyer Kit Enriquez to return the five witnesses to the witness protection the DOJ may soon act on it.

She added if threats are found then the witnesses will be back in the witness protection program.

Earlier, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu Province Chapter and Cebu City chapters made a joint resolution asking for reconsideration of the DOJ’s decision dated April 13, 2011 terminating the five witnesses from the witness protection program after they had completed their testimony in court and the threats went down to minimum.

Ecleo, also the leader of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association cult, is accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod, who was found dead in 2002. —(FREEMAN)