EDITORIAL - Bound to fall

Regardless of how many times he eludes arrest, a fugitive from justice is always bound to fall. Despite being entrenched in a seemingly impenetrable hideout, authorities eventually catch up with him.  

History is replete with stories about the legendary exploits of many wanted personalities playing cat and mouse with the police. But there's always time for the end of their adventure.  

Retired Armed Forces general Jovito Palparan used to outrun the authorities hunting him for the disappearance of two female university students suspected of being rebel sympathizers.

Dubbed "The Butcher," Palparan has been accused of various crimes against humanity, with human rights advocates attributing military abuses such as extrajudicial killings to him and his soldiers.   

But Palparan's run from justice is finally over. And with his arrest last week, he would have to face court trials over allegations he masterminded those killings and disappearances of many in areas he served.    

Now, after Palparan, authorities are training their sights on the country's remaining high profile fugitives, especially on former Dinagat mayor and congressman Ruben Ecleo, who was found guilty of killing his wife.

A Cebu court had convicted Ecleo, the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, for the murder of his wife Alona in Cebu in 2002. Before his conviction, Ecleo managed to gain temporary freedom after posting jail. He then went into hiding after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest for a graft case.

With the recent arrest of Palparan, the next big challenge for the government is the arrest Ecleo, the highly influential cult leader with many followers and suspected to be hiding in Mindanao.     

Many would say the authorities would certainly find it hard to locate Ecleo. Considering his thousands of followers scattered across the country, it would be easy for Ecleo to hop from place to another with their help.

Given this situation, arresting the cult leader would prove to be a tall order for the government. However, sooner or later, his time will eventually run out.