Police files

ECLEO PARRICIDE CASE

AN anti-violence advocate yesterday testified in court against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., the supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).

Thelma Chiong, national vice president of the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), said Ecleo’s sister Jade tried to bring the remains of slain victim Alona from Cebu City to Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte.

In fact, Chiong said Ecleo’s camp paid for the expenses of Alona’s funeral.

“Jade wanted to get the body of Alona so it will be buried in Dinagat,” Chiong said.

Chiong’s testimony was used by the prosecution to refute Ecleo’s defense.

Ecleo earlier said that the body of the woman found in Dalaguete town does not belong to her wife Alona.

Chiong said slain lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco was Alona’s family counsel when Ecleo’s sister tried to bring the body of the victim to Dinagat Islands.

She said the lawyer urged Jade to file appropriate charges so they could claim the body of Alona.

However, Jade didn’t heed the lawyer’s request.

Trial against Ecleo will resume on Sept. 23.

Ecleo is facing arrest in relation to his conviction on three counts of graft for overpricing construction supplies during his stint as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte from 1991 to 1994.

Cebu City Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras also canceled Ecleo’s P1-million bail in the parricide case over the death of his wife Alona after he failed to attend several hearings.

Ecleo was accused of masterminding Alona’s murder in Jan. 5, 2002./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL

BIKE STOLEN IN MANDAUE

A MOTORCYCLE parked in front of a brokerage firm in barangay Looc, Mandaue City, was stolen by unidentified thieves last Monday afternoon.

Junard Solliano, 35, of barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, told police that he was on his way home when he found out his motorcycle with plate number of II-9466 was missing.

Soliano, worker of J and D Brokerage, said the motorcycle was registered under Ranellan Lugas, the first owner of the motorcycle.

Operation to recover the motorcycle is ongoing, said police./REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS

MAN FOUND DEAD IN SAN REMIGIO

THE body of an unidentified man was found floating in the waters off barangay Lambusan, San Remegio town, northern Cebu, last Tuesday evening.

The man was still rushed to the town’s hospital but he was declared dead by Dr. Edgar Espinosa.

Police said the body was found by fisherman Manuelito Abañez.

The man was about five feet in height and had a brown short pants on./CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC

3 POLICE OFFICIALS MOVE TO CEBU CITY

THREE police officials have joined the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Supt. Jonathan Abella is the new chief of the Cebu City Public Safety Company (formerly Security Service Group). Abella came from the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).

Supt. Carmelo Dayon is CCPO’s new chief of the Police Community Relations, while Supt. Rey Tiempo is the new operations branch chief./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON

ARMED MAN NABBED IN CARMEN

A 49-YEAR-OLD man was arrested after police found him with guns and ammunition in barangay Corte, Carmen town, northern Cebu, early morning last Tuesday.

Police said Bebiano Pinggoy Mejares was acting suspiciously when roving policemen spotted him.

When frisked, Mejares yielded a .22 rifle with five live bullets, a .22 revolver; four bullets of a .22 revolver; an empty shell of a .22 revolver; a .357 revolver; a magazine for a .9mm pistol and a .45 pistol.

The man was detained at the Carmen police precinct while waiting for charges to be filed against him, said police./CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC

WOOD WORTH P300T RECOVERED

AN endangered iron wood was found submerged in the waters off Cabahug wharf in barangay Looc, Mandaue City, on Tuesday night.

The wood locally known as magkono would cost worth P300,000, said Insp. Wilson Abot, chief of the Opao police precinct.

Police said the wood was 20 feet long, four inches wide and four inches thick.

Abot said police rushed to the area after receiving a report that a wood was thrown into the waters.

The wood was turned over to the Mandaue City Police Office for proper disposition./REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS

RAPE SUSPECT FALLS

A MAN accused of raping a 17-year-old girl was arrested by police in barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City, last Wednesday.

Police said Paulino Laurente, 30, had been in hiding for almost a year. He is facing two counts of rape.

Insp. Joeson Paralag, chief of police station 3, said it was only last Wednesday that the man returned to sitio Langub.

The man denied the accusations against him. He said the girl was his girlfriend, and it was the complainant’s aunt who forced her to file a case against him./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

KOREAN HURT IN LAPU ROBBERY

A FEMALE Korean tourist was wounded after she and a fellow Korean resisted a robbery in barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.
Aeri Lee, 24, was stabbed in the hand.

Police said Lee, 24, and Jiyoon Hong, 24, who were both staying at Pacific Grand Villa in Marigondon, were walking along a road in sitio Subapanas when a knife-welding man blocked their path and declared a holdup.

The robber grabbed Hong’s bag.

Hong resisted and struck the robber with an umbrella.

Lee tried to help Hong when the robber stabbed her.

The robber fled empty-handed while the two Koreans ran to the police station to report the robbery./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

STORE LOSES P25T TO ROBBERS

THREE armed men robbed a merchandising store and carted away P25,000 in barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City last Tuesday afternoon.

Police said the robbers barged into RBT store and pointed guns at sale clerks Mercy Pancho and Sarry Sarido.

After taking the money, the robbers fled on a motorcycle.

Police conducted a road block after the robbery was reported but failed to intercept the robbers.

Police said the plate number of the motorcycle used by the robber was traced to one Jennifer Serrano from Bacoor, Cavite.

Police said it was possible that the plate number was tampered./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA