A police team was formed to track down Ruben Ecleo Jr., who convicted by the court of killing his wife Alona in 2002.
The supreme leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) is widely believed to be staying in his hometown in Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte.
Senior Supt. Jose Pante, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), told reporters the police team is ready to move once Ecleo’s whereabouts are confirmed.
Pante said they have been receiving several reports about it but these leads are still being verified.
A P150,000 cash reward is being offered to anyone who could give information that would lead to Ecleo’s arrest.
Pante said the CIDG believes Ecleo is still in the country because his signature appears in a recent court pleading filed by his lawyers.
CIDG in Mindanao and Manila are also conducting operations to arrest Ecleo.
Pante said they expect that Ecleo’s private armed group called “White Eagles” will defend him if police try to arrest him.
Ecleo has been lying low ever 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.
Last month, Ecleo was found guilty of parricide for killing his wife.
At least 14 PBMA members and two policemen were killed when police tried to arrest Ecleo in 2002 on Dinagat Island./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON