Friday, October 26, 2007 Ecleo housemaid tells court: Josebil lied during testimony
A HOUSEMAID of former mayor and religious sect leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. told the court that Josebil Bacolod’s testimony was a “lie.”
Margie Paskil, a Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) member since birth, told Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Geraldine Faith Econg that contrary to his claims, Josebil was not in the house of the Ecleo couple last Jan. 5, 2002.
Josebil had testified in Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra’s sala that on the night of Jan. 5, he heard a loud thump inside the bedroom of spouses Ruben and Alona.
He said he heard his older sister Alona shouting for help (“tabang”) before Ecleo left the room, half-naked and sweating.
After hearing the sound and seeing his brother-in-law, Josebil said just went to sleep because Ecleo glared at him.
He saw Ecleo and the leader’s bodyguard, Juryven Padero, carrying a big black garbage bag that they placed inside the trunk of Ecleo’s red Toyota car.
The prosecution said that since then, Alona, 27, went missing. Her body, stuffed inside a black garbage bag, was found by a roadside in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu on Jan. 8.
Ecleo is facing trial for parricide for the killing of his wife.
Paskil said it is impossible for Josebil to hear and see something that she herself did not notice.
“What Josebil said is a lie. I was there. I was awake,” she said.
Paskil also clarified why her testimony is contrary to her affidavit.
In her affidavit, Paskil said that last Jan. 5, after finishing all her chores, she went to the annex at the back of the main house to iron clothes.
She said Josebil was already sleeping at that time. But during her testimony in court, she said Josebil was not in the house.
“I only said that because I saw him in the house in the morning of Jan. 6. I only assumed that he slept there,” Paskil said.
Ecleo is out on a P1-million bail. He is reportedly in San Jose town in Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, where he served as town mayor.
On June 18, 2002, Alona’s elder brother Ben, their father Elpidio, mother Rosalia, sister Evelyn and a neighbor died after a PBMA member opened fire at them in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
Another brother Ricky was wounded. He is now under protective custody along with what remained of the Bacolod family. (KNT)
