Ecleo dangles P3M to court to evade arrest for conviction

Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo has pulled out another trick to evade arrest and remain free.

After earlier claiming to have a serious heart ailment to avoid being jailed, Ecleo, who has been convicted of graft and ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan, this time has asked the court to fix a bond in order to suspend the effects of his arrest warrant.

In a motion filed through his lawyer Maria Concepcion Uson-Noel, Ecleo said he was willing to post a P3-million bond as a guarantee that he would not flee the country, continue to obey the court and remain under its jurisdiction.

“Mr. Ecleo is willing to post a bond of P3 million, higher than the amount sought to be executed, to guarantee that he will not flee from the jurisdiction of the Court and will continue to comply with and obey its orders and processes,” his motion stated, adding that he could pay the bond in cash if the Sandiganbayan will require it.

Ecleo’s motion cited urgent and valid practical and legal grounds why he does not want to be arrested.

As a lawmaker, the arrest warrant has prevented him from attending sessions in Congress, thus, depriving his constituents representation in the House of Representatives, his motion said.

Ecleo’s doctors also claim that he suffers from coronary artery disease, which they described as a “serious heart ailment” and a condition that makes the lawmaker a “walking time bomb.” Because of his arrest warrant, Ecleo had been unable to consult with his doctors, the motion said.

“He could even die anytime, as he could not, as a consequence, undergo the coronary bypass strongly recommended by his physicians,” the motion stated.

The implementation of his arrest warrant could be suspended “in the higher interest of justice,” it added.

It said the Sandiganbayan has acknowledged that Ecleo has a pending petition before the Supreme Court questioning his graft conviction.