Another Cebu court judge inhibits self from Ecleo case

MANILA, Philippines - Another trial court judge has inhibited self from the parricide case of Ruben Ecleo Jr, supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), a report said Thursday.

Cebu regional trial court’s Geraldine Faith Econg is the sixth judge to inhibit from Ecleo’s case, reportedly to cast away doubts on the impartiality of the court, GMA network news Balitang Bisdak said.

In a 24-page resolution, Econg said that the prosecution’s accusations that the court unduly favored Ecleo are baseless.

Ecleo has been accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod on January 5, 2002.

In December 2004, Econg admitted that two women approached her to asked how much would she need in payment for dropping the case, Balitang Bisdak Said.

Ecleo faces parricide charges before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 23 for allegedly murdering his third wife.

The family of Alona points to Ecleo as suspect. They alleged that Alona’s constant nagging about Ecleo’s addiction to methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, had reportedly led him to murder her. -GMANews.TV