Former justice sec takes over Ecleo case

More than a decade of trials and two convictions later, Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. is still finding ways to stay out of jail.

This time the congressman of Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte is bringing in a former Cabinet member and the brother of the Ombudsman to represent him in his appeal before the court.

Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who served during former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration, filed his entry of appearance before Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras of Branch 10 last Friday.

He is accompanied by lawyers Lucas Carpio Jr. and Jose Ventura-Aspiras. Carpio is the brother of Tanodbayan Conchita Carpio-Morales and the husband of Court of Appeals Associate Justice Agnes Carpio.

Aspiras represented Ecleo in his graft cases before the Sandiganbayan.

“The conviction of Ecleo is contrary to facts, laws, and jurisprudence applicable,” Ecleo’s three lawyers said in their notice of appeal.

Judge Peras will hear the recent pleadings on Wednesday. Ecleo, the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), has technically until today to seek the reversal of his conviction.

Prosecution lawyers believed Ecleo loses his right to have his conviction reviewed or appealed if he fails to surrender until today.

Although he hasn’t shown himself in public for months, Ecleo signed the pleading filed by his three new lawyers.

Bello III served as justice secretary twice. He was appointed DOJ undersecretary before he was appointed justice secretary 1990 to 1992 during the tenure of former president Corazon Aquino.

During the time of former president Fidel Ramos, Bello was appointed solicitor-general before he was again named as secretary of justice.

When former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, Bello was appointed as chairman of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines panel of peace talks with the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army for 10 years.

He was eventually named Cabinet Secretary in 2008 but he later quit his post in February 2010 to pursue his Senate bid.

The 67-year-old Bello is born in Gattaran, Cagayan in Mindanao.

Orlando Salatandre, who represented Ecleo in his parricide case for 10 years, earlier decided to withdraw from the case.

He said he’s presently busy and has done his part in defending the congressman during trial.

But Salatandre told Cebu Daily News yesterday that he remains the lawyer of the Ecleo family and may join the three other lawyers anytime.

“As of now, I’m giving them (three lawyers) the leeway to represent the accused,” Salatandre said.

Judge Peras has yet to rule on whether or not to allow Salatandre to withdraw as Ecleo’s counsel and to allow the three lawyers to represent the congressman.

Lawyer Kit Enriquez, one of the private prosecutors, said they are not afraid of Ecleo’s new set of lawyers. He described Bello as a “big-time” lawyer.

“They (Ecleos) are actually just looking for influential people. We won’t be afraid of that. Their appeal is defective,” Enriquez told Cebu Daily News.

He said they will contest the Notice of Appeal filed by Ecleo since the cult leader failed to show up in court.

While Ecleo has 15 days to contest the April 13 court ruling, the prosecution said he first has to submit to the jurisdiction of the court and justify his absence during the April 13 promulgation.

Ecleo has been in hiding since the Sandiganbayan convicted him on three counts of graft for overpaying the construction of two municipal buildings during his tenure as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte.

His conviction on the graft charges is deemed final and executory by the Supreme Court.

Last April 13, Ecleo was found guilty of parricide for killing his wife Alona on Jan. 5, 2002.

He was meted a prison term of reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years and ordered to pay fines and damages worth P26.3 million.

Angelito Bacolod, one of the five remaining siblings of Alona, urged Ecleo to yield to authorities. /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter