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Ruben Ecleo Jr.

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Buray and the surname or paternal family name is Ecleo.
Ruben Ecleo Jr.
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Dinagat Islands' Lone District
In office
June 30, 2010 – May 31, 2012
Preceded byGlenda B. Ecleo
Succeeded byKaka Bag-ao
Mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte
In office
1991–1994
Personal details
Born
Ruben Buray Ecleo Jr.

(1960-04-16)April 16, 1960
DiedMay 13, 2021(2021-05-13) (aged 61)
Muntinlupa, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political partyLakas-CMD
Children4
OccupationPolitician
Criminal statusDead (in prison from 2011–2021)
SpouseAlona Bacolod
Criminal chargeParricide, graft and corruption
PenaltyLife imprisonment (parricide)
18–30 years of imprisonment (graft)
Imprisoned atNew Bilibid Prison

Ruben Buray Ecleo Jr. (April 16, 1960 – May 13, 2021) was a Filipino politician and religious figure who was the leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.

Background

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Ecleo was born to an influential Ecleo political family in the Dinagat Islands. His father Ruben Sr. was a former mayor of San Jose, while his mother Glenda was a former member of the House of Representatives.[1]

Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association

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Ecleo Jr. in 1987 inherited the leadership of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), an organization ran by his father Ruben Sr. He was Supreme President of the PBMA and was sometimes referred to as the "Supreme Master" of the group. The PBMA is headquartered in San Jose in the Dinagat Islands.[2]

The PBMA has been characterized as a cult.[2] The older Ecleo claimed to have supernatural abilities while the younger one was reportedly believed to be an reincarnation of Jesus Christ.[1]

Political career

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Ecleo was Mayor of San Jose from 1991 to 1994 when the town was still part of Surigao del Norte.[3]

Ecleo was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for Dinagat Islands' lone district in the 2010 election.[4][5] He was removed from his position on May 31, 2012 due to his conviction for graft and corruption.[6][7]

Crimes

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Ruben Ecleo Jr. was married to Alona Bacolod. He strangled his wife to death in their residence in Cebu City on January 5, 2002. At the time of her death, Bacolod was in her 20s and a fourth-year medical student. Bacolod's body was found three days later in a ravine in Dalaguete. Ecleo's crime was linked to his dependency on methamphetamine by a court testimony of one of Bacolod's seven siblings.[8]

On June 18, 2002 Alona's brother Ben, a key witness to Ecleo's case along with her parents and sister Evelyn were killed at their house in Mandaue.[8]

A warrant for his arrest was released. The police and military went to the PBMA headquarters in San Jose, Dinagat Islands to serve the warrant.[4][9]

Ecleo was detained, but released on bail in March 2004 to seek treatment for his heart condition.[8]

In October 2006, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Ecleo to thirty years in prison for entering a 1993 government contract in which the government lost about ₱2.4 million. He was found guilty of three counts of violating Republic Act 3019. His co-defendants, Anadelia Nalauan-Navarra and Ricardo Santillan, were convicted of twice violating the anti-graft laws and sentenced to six to ten years for each count.[10] The case involved the funding of the construction of the market and municipal building and repair of a building owned by the PBMA during Ecleo's tenure as San Jose mayor.[3]

Ecleo stopped attending hearings in 2011 when his bail was cancelled but continued to be tried in absentia. He was convicted in April 13, 2012 for parricide.[11] Ecleo was arrested in Pampanga on July 30, 2020 after being a fugitive for almost a decade.[12]

Illness and death

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Ecleo contracted COVID-19 and was brought to the Dr. J. Sabili General Hospital in Taguig on April 25, 2021.[13] He died at the New Bilibid Prison Hospital in Muntinlupa due to cardiac arrest on May 13.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Laude, Jaime (20 June 2002). "Amulets didn't stop bullets". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Solinap, Leo (24 June 2002). "Ecleo's group not a cult, says follower". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gonzales, Cathrine (30 July 2020). "Ex-solon and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. now in police custody". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Accused killer Ecleo Jr. now sits in Congress". ABS-CBN News. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. ^ Languido, Fred (11 February 2011). "Ruben Ecleo faces arrest, expulsion from Congress". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  6. ^ "House to kick out Ecleo". ABS-CBN News. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ^ Medina, Andrei (1 June 2012). "Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. removed from Congress". GMA News. Please delete the name of Rep. Ruben Ecleo from the Roll of Members of the House of Representatives effective May 31, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c "Who is Ruben Ecleo Jr.?". Cebu Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. ^ Recuenco, Aaron (30 July 2020). "Fugitive cult leader Ecleo arrested in Pampanga after hiding for 9 years". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  10. ^ Cult leader gets 30 years in prison for corruption Manila Times Torres, Tetch October 14, 2006[dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Ecleo family and supporters rally behind Master Ruben Jr". MindaNews. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  12. ^ Gabinete, Jojo (30 July 2020). "Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., arestado matapos ang siyam na taong pagtatago" [Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., arrested after nine years of hiding]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  13. ^ Torres-Tupas, Tetch (4 May 2021). "Ecleo brought to private hospital in April for COVID-related, pre-existing illness". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Cult leader and murder convict Ruben Ecleo Jr. dies". ABS-CBN News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
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