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Wednesday, September 10, 2003
P.5M cash, chainsaw seized from Ecleo cell
By Minerva B. Gerodias & Grecar Nilles
CEBU -- Close to half a million pesos in cash and checks were among the items seized from the cell of Ruben Ecleo Jr. by Cebu City jail officers during the “Operation Greyhound” security search Monday night.
Worse, Ecleo admitted that he gave “minimal amounts” of cash to some jail officers, although he no longer remembered all their names.
“There were just so many of them. They’d tell me they had to go home to their families and had no money. Sometimes, I gave them P500. Sometimes P1,000,” Ecleo said in an ABS-CBN interview.
“Ever since, nakaugalian na yan (that’s been the practice),” added Ecleo, who explained that most of the cash came from his followers in the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).
Aside from the cash and checks in different currencies, also found were an electric chainsaw, musical instruments and gadgets, a cellular phone, a hand drill, strings, a VCD player and a TV set.
Ecleo reportedly used the saw and drill to make guitars.
Asked how these items got inside the jail when these are prohibited, newly appointed jail warden Nestor Velasquez said he could not answer for the previous management.
But he asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regional office to investigate Ecleo’s revelation.
“He did not say what the money was for. He only said he would give money whenever a jail guard had to go home to the province,” said Velasquez, who took over the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) last Saturday, a day after three inmates escaped.
Not daily
“I asked him if he gives money everyday but he replied, ‘Kung daily, mag-rereklamo na rin ako’ (If I had to give everyday, I’d complain),” Velasquez added.
One of Ecleo’s lawyers, however, denied reports that Ecleo admitted he gave money to some jail guards.
“As far as we are concerned, there was no direct admission on the part of Ecleo that he gave money to jail guards or officials at the BBRC,” said lawyer Giovanni Mata.
He added: “Even if a chain saw was seized inside his cell, it should not be construed as an equipment for possible escape. Escaping is not an option, especially now that the ruling on our motion to bail is about to be decided.”
Mata is one of the lawyers defending Ecleo in his parricide case.
Undersecretary Marius Corpus of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said in a radio dyLA interview that Ecleo’s allegation needs to be investigated. He assured that the DILG is strict in imposing sanctions for irregularities.
He also said that an inmate is not supposed to keep large amounts of cash in his cell, as that money can be used in bribing jail guards and officials.
For the master
Velasquez, former warden Chief Insp. Gledo Baroro and some jail guards conducted Operation Greyhound past 7 p.m. Monday. It lasted for two hours.
The cash in Ecleo’s cell was in different denominations: P155,250; US$2,898; 400 British pounds; Canadian $100; 90,500 yen; 50 Euros; Australian $300; and checks worth US$1,500 and P1,000.
When the cash and checks were converted into pesos based on the present rate, it totaled at least P493,498.
The money was reportedly from Ecleo’s followers in the PBMA, a group originally based in the Ecleo stronghold of San Jose, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte but with members in different countries.
Ecleo was charged with parricide for allegedly killing his wife Alona Bacolod last Jan. 5, 2002 inside their house in Banawa, Cebu City.
Jail officials turned over the cash and the other items to Ecleo’s lawyer Mata and brother Ben Glen.
Mata said the money was discovered before Ecleo could turn over the PBMA contributions to his brother, who now handles the organization’s finances.
“People and radio commentators should stop insinuating that the money came from the illegal drugs trade,” said Mata.
Protection
Although BJMP rules do not specify the maximum amount of money an inmate can keep, it states that a prisoner should not hold on to large amounts of cash as this would endanger his life, Velasquez said.
Other inmates might be interested in robbing him if they know he has wads of cash.
“Besides, what can you do with the cash? You can’t shop inside,” Velasquez quipped.
Velasquez admitted that jail officials cannot keep Ecleo’s followers from bringing cash as it is not illegal to bring money when they visit.
“But I have talked to his brother to get the donations every afternoon,” Velasquez said.
Velasquez said he raided Ecleo’s cell first so that the public would not think that Ecleo was given a chance to prepare. Ecleo is detained in the infirmary ward with three other inmates.
Velasquez assured that during his stint as warden, there will be no special treatment of prisoners, an allegation that has been raised more than once since Ecleo’s detention began in June last year.
Hospitality
Velasquez also asked PBMA members to follow visiting schedules.
“From this time on, I don’t want PBMA members to come in and out (as they please).
Respect the imposed visiting hours. I told his brother to bring the food early because I will not tolerate them giving food beyond the allowed time,” Velasquez said.
He hopes to correct whatever mistakes the previous administration has done because the higher officials of BJMP have high expectations of him.
As to Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama’s statement that BJMP officials are corrupt, Velasquez said he will prove that not all are tainted.
But he also stressed he needs the City Government’s support in changing the image of BBRC.
Thelma Chiong of the Crusade Against Violence wants the BJMP to investigate BBRC jail guards who have shown “too much hospitality” to Ecleo.
“The jail guards should be investigated to check whether some of them have already joined the PBMA,” Chiong said.
(September 10, 2003 issue) |
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