Highlights

JANUARY 5, 2002

Based on accounts of Josebil Bacolod, his sister Alona had an argument with husband Ruben Ecleo Jr. at their house in sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

JANUARY 6, 2002

Alona went missing.

JANUARY 8, 2002

A black garbage bag containing the body of a woman was found down a deep ravine in Dalaguete town. The body, unidentifiable at that time, was believed to be that of Alona's.

APRIL 24, 2002

Parricide charges filed against Ecleo. Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Galicano Arriesgado issued arrest warrant barely an hour after the case was filed. The case was later assigned to the sala of RTC Judge Olegario Sarmiento.

MAY 4, 2002

Upon request of Alona Bacolod's father, Elpidio, RTC Judge Olegario Sarmiento inhibited from the case based on Sarmiento's promise to inhibit from cases supported by the Crusade Against Violence (CAV). He earlier denied Ecleo's motion to quash the arrest warrant.

JUNE 18, 2002

Ecleo surrendered following a bloody gunfight in Ecleo's enclave in Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte. Twenty-three people were killed during the gunfight between authorities and private army of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).

On the same day in Cebu, the family of Alona, including her father Elpidio, mother Rosalia and brother Ben, were massacred at their house in Mandaue City by a man reported to be a PBMA member.

FEBRUARY 18, 2003

Ecleo was arraigned but did not enter a plea, prompting RTC Judge Generosa Labra to enter a plea of 'not guilty' on his behalf. Ecleo's refusal to enter a plea was a form of protest to question the jurisdiction of the Cebu court.

MARCH 1, 2004

The court allowed Ecleo to post a P1 million bail after his lawyer presented medical results showing he has a serious heart ailment. He was described as a "walking time bomb."

MARCH 28, 2004

Regional Trial Court Judge Generosa Labra inhibited from the case after allegations of inconsistent rulings. The motion for inhibition was filed by Ecleo's lawyers.

APRIL 20, 2004

RTC Judge Anacleto Caminade, the fourth judge to handle the case, signed an order releasing Ecleo from the city jail. He would later inhibit from the case

OCTOBER 7, 2004

Private prosecutor Arbet Sta. Ana Yongco was shot dead inside her house in Barangay Zapatera.

OCTOBER 14, 2004

RTC Judge Ireneo Gako, the fourth judge to handle the case, inhibited. RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg took over the case.

OCTOBER 19, 2004

A murder complaint was filed against PBMA members Michel Favila Sr., Nestor Carrol and Heracleo Rallestan, the alleged suspects in Yongco's murder. Carol and Rallesten were later acquitted from charges while Favila died of diabetes. The alleged driver of the getaway vehicle, Eddie Ardita, was also cleared of charges. 

OCTOBER 28, 2004

The surviving siblings of Alona - Angelito, Ricky and Josebil Bacolod - opposed the move to transfer the hearing of the case to Manila.

DECEMBER 14, 2004

A hold departure order was issued against Ecleo.

JANUARY 5, 2005

Reports surfaced that at least three attempts were made to bribe the judge between December 15 and 30.

MARCH 6, 2005

After three years, to verify its identity, the body buried at the Cebu South Memorial Garden in Talisay City was exhumed.

MAY 14, 2005

A forensic expert ruled that the body was that of Alona's because the cadaver recovered from the ravine in Dalaguete bore similarities to that of the exhumed remains.

OCTOBER 2006

The Sandiganbayan convicted Ecleo and two others on graft charges and sentenced them to 30 years in prison.

APRIL 24, 2008

RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg inhibited from the case to cast away doubts of impartiality. The case went to RTC Judge Soliver Peras.

OCTOBER 26, 2009

RTC Judge Soliver Peras, the seventh judge to handle the case, inhibited following criticisms on his policy to require the press and the public to submit their photos and wear ID cards during trial. He would later reconsider his decision.

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

The Sandiganbayan junked Ecleo's motion to reconsider the conviction and ordered Ecleo's arrest. The PBMA supreme master went missing.

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

The Supreme Court denied Ecleo's appeal on the graft case with finality and ordered for his arrest.

APRIL 13, 2012

The Regional Trial Court handed down a guilty verdict on the parricide case and sentenced Ecleo to 40 years in jail. Ecleo remained at large. (FREEMAN)