Hearing of Ecleo’s motion moved
The court postponed the hearing of the motion filed by the defense lawyer of Ruben Ecleo Jr. asking for reconsideration of the court’s decision denying their notice of appeal.
The hearing was moved to Aug. 10 as the court had to conduct an inventory of cases yesterday, the original schedule of the hearing.
Lawyer Jose Ventura Aspiras said Ecleo deserves to be heard.
Aspiras said they were supposed to present oral arguments to convince the court to reconsider its earlier ruling.
Earlier, the defense filed a motion for reconsideration after Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court Branch 10 denied their notice of appeal.
Aspiras said Ecleo was saddened by the turn of events.
“He was sad. He thinks he was judged on the basis of public perception,” he said.
Aspiras added the conviction of Ecleo was “heartbreaking” and his client felt he was not treated fairly.
Aspiras said they will continue with their legal battle.
“We will continue and we think we can achieve justice out of it,” he said.
Aspiras also clarified yesterday that the signature in the motion they filed was Ecleo’s.
“We transmitted the pleading to the mother of Ecleo to let Ecleo sign and gave it back to us,” he said.
Prosecution lawyer Fritz Quiñanola said Ecleo’s claim that he was not notified of the scheduled promulgation cannot “hold water” because his counsel Orlando Salatandre was informed.
“Under the regulation, notice to counsel is notice to accused,” he said.
Quiñanola added he thinks Ecleo is not going to surrender and is waiting for other remedies.
“If the court will deny their motion for reconsideration, they will probably file a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals and bring the case to the higher court,” he said.
Last April 13, 2012, Ecleo was found guilty of parricide for killing his wife Alona in 2002.
Peras sentenced Ecleo 20 to 40 year’s imprisonment and ordered to pay at least P26 million damages to the Bacolod family.