Ecleo's lawyers snubbed hearing

CEBU, Philippines - No lawyers appeared for convicted Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. during the joint hearing of the three motions, including the notice to appeal, filed by the defense.

Regional Trial Court Judge Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras was supposed to hear yesterday the motion filed by lawyer Orlando Sa-latandre to withdraw as counsel for Ecleo as well as the entry of appearance of the new defense panel.

Peras would have also heard the notice to appeal Ecleo’s conviction of the parricide case where he was sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years imprisonment.

However, the court was forced to suspend the hearing after none of Ecleo’s lawyers, both members of the old and new defense panel, show up.

Ecleo’s new defense panel includes former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Lucas Carpio and Jose Ventura-Aspiras. Carpio is the brother of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Salatandre filed an urgent ex-parte motion to withdraw as counsel for Ecleo few days after the latter was convicted. His withdrawal however was questioned by the prosecution panel.

Private prosecutor Kit Enriquez said the motion did not bear Ecleo’s signature, which he claimed to be a requirement. He noted however that the new panel’s entry of appearance has the signature of Ecleo.

Enriquez said that the new lawyers knew the whereabouts of Ecleo whereby making them liable for obstruction of justice. Enriquez said they will be filing a formal motion asking the lawyers of Ecleo to explain the latter’s absence during the promulgation of judgment and his whereabouts.

“We wanted them to explain whether they can justify the absence of Ecleo during the promulgation and to doublecheck the signature because how come he had affixed his signature in the notice of appeal and not affix his signature in motion to withdraw,” Enriquez said.

Ecleo, who is also supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, was convicted of parricide for killing his wife Alona in 2002. — (FREEMAN)