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Ecleo to be probed for massacre of wife's kin, says PNP


The Philippine National Police will investigate former lawmaker Ruben Ecleo Jr. for his alleged role in the killing of his wife’s loved ones, Police Major General Debold Sinas said on Thursday.

In a briefing, Sinas cited reports from regarding Ecleo's alleged involvement in the killings.

“We will be tracking also kasi accordingly hindi lang ‘yung asawa ‘yung pinatay niya. According to our friends in Cebu City, 'yung pamilya po ni Alona Bacolod, comprising sa father, sa mother, ‘yung sister na si Evelyn at saka si Ben was also massacred din in June 2, 2002,”  Sinas said.

In April 2012, Ecleo was convicted for the January 2002 murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, whose body was found decomposing in a ravine.

Sinas said that reports showed that Ecleo was involved in the killings but a was not filed.

“According to reports, may kinalaman siya pero that case was not filed unlike ‘yung sa asawa niya. But everybody knows doon sa Cebu na siya ang prime suspect,” Sinas said.

“[T]hat is investigated by Cebu before in 2002 and I think may mga investigation sila. As to the progress of the case, we will find out,” he added.

Ecleo, meanwhile, denied killing the family but said that he had admitted to the crime after being accused.

“Hindi ako ang gumawa pero kasi inakusahan ako at na prove na kaya aminin ko na,” Ecleo said in Bisaya.

His response was translated by Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Gamboa.

Ecleo also said that he also did not issue an order to kill the family and later denied knowing the culprit.

Authorities arrested Ecleo at the vicinity of a golf course in San Fernando, Pampanga where he surrendered peacefully.

He is the leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, a group based in Dinagat Islands. -NB, GMA News