He will be in an isolation area and will be observed by the RDC medical staff for a period of time following quarantine procedures, BuCor said in a statement. Ecleo is convicted for the January 2002 murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. He was convicted of parricide in April, 2012 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. It airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 6:30 PM (PHL Time) and on weekends at 6:00 PM. Government may require restaurants to reveal meat products sources. By providing an email address. The former Dinagat Islands representative is considered the No. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Sinas said surveillance was conducted in various areas in Metro Manila until they obtained credible information that he was staying in Angeles City and was using a fictitious name Marcos Macapagal Garcia. BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said Ecleo, who was detained at the New Bilibid Prison, passed away due to cardiopulmonary arrest at 12:20 p.m. Thursday. The Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Inc. ( PBMA) is a non-sectarian and non-profit charitable religious fraternal organization for men and women in the Philippines founded by Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. (December 9, 1934 - December 20, 1987) in 1965 on the Philippine island of Dinagat, off the coast of Mindanao. Ecleo died of cardiopulmonary arrest . Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said NCRPO intelligence agents arrested Ecleo at around 4:30 a.m. We received information from our agent from the Dinagat Island that Ruben Ecleo had left Dinagat Island six years ago. 28042. Ecleo Jr. reportedly strangled Alona in their house in Cebu City before her body was dumped. Cult leader Ecleo dies | Philippine News Agency He had been in hiding for 14 years, the Philippine National Police said. This page contains information The Cult Education Institute has gathered about the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association. - Ben Serrano - May 15, 2002 | 12:00am SURIGAO CITY The police claimed they have no idea where the former San Jose,Dinagat Island Mayor Ruben Ecleo. When Ecleo was presented to the media by the National Capital Region Police Office earlier Thursday, July 30, he continued to maintain his innocence in the murder case. In a text message to Rappler, Brigadier General Albert Ferro, current Central Visayas police chief, hailed the capture of Ecleo as justice served for the Bacolod family. Composed by Ruben B. Ecleo Jr. 'Pakikisama' enabled Ecleo Jr evade arrest for years The Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Inc. (PBMA) is a non-sectarian and non-profit charitable religious fraternal organization for men and women in the Philippines founded by Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. (December 9, 1934 December 20, 1987) in 1965 on the Philippine island of Dinagat, off the coast of Mindanao. Retired Senior Insp. He served as mayor of San Jose from 1991 to 1994 while head of the PBMA. But on the night of June 18, 2002, a lone gunman massacred Alonas parents, Elpidio and Rosalia, her brother Ben, and sister Evelyn at the familys home in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City. To find out more, please click this link. Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Inc. Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, "Dinagat: The hands that heal hold power", "23 Surigao Cultists Killed as Law Enforcers Arrest Ruben Ecleo, Jr", "Another Cebu court judge inhibits self from Ecleo case", Cult leader gets 30 years in prison for corruption, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Benevolent_Missionaries_Association&oldid=1136051996, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 13:39. The origins of Ruben Ecleo Sr. Ex-solon and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. now in police custody, Court finds Rep. Ecleo guilty of killing wife, SC rules with finality on Ecleos graft case, House drops convicted legislator Ecleo from the rolls, Fugitive cult leader sets terms for surrender, Child abuse, lack of schooling at NBAs China academiesreport, Wife in Carcar to cheating husband: I will never forgive you; concubinage case filed, Presyo Merkado: Current prices of food in Metro Cebu markets, Cebu City raid: PDEA closes canteen crew members drug den; 4 nabbed, Anne Curtis gikantahan si Baby Rosie, matud ni Luis Manzano: First time ko nakita naguluhan anak ko!, Awra Briguela freed from custody after posting P6,000 bail, Cable cars might be expected in Cebu City soon, Paolo, Isko binati ang TVJ sa bagong noontime show sa TV5 na E.A.T. Murder convict and former congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr. dies Show more Show more The Supreme Court has ordered former Palawan governor Joel Reyes rearrested in connection with the murder of radio broadcaster and environmental activist Gerry Ortega in 2011. Later in 2012, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of parricide over the death of his wife Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. Ruben Jr. succeeded him. Ecleo was presented to the media by Major General Debold Sinas, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, in a press conference. A neighbor of the Bacolod family was also killed in the crossfire. Ex-congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr. nabbed in Pampanga Ecleo now doing time at Bilibid | Inquirer News It took them six months before they finally tracked down Ecleo. Read: Ex-solon and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. now in police custody. San Jose by Ruben Ecleo Jr - PBMA Song - YouTube Ecleo Jr, the supreme master of the group, took over after his father died in 1987. Ecleo was arrested with driver Benjie Faran, the National Capital Region Police Office confirmed. Alona Bacolod-Ecleo was a medical student at Southwestern University in Cebu City and in her last year of medical school in 2002 when she went missing that January. But according to a report in the Inquirer, the court saw his leaving Cebu as an indication of guilt.. Ecleo was convicted in 2012 by a Cebu City court for the gruesome murder of his wife Alona Bacolod-Ecleo in 2002. Separation was painful for UMC, but our Christian identity is now stronger The crimes he was convicted for include three counts of graft and parricide for killing his own wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. MANILA, Philippines Former Dinagat Islands Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr., the supreme master of cult group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), is now in police custody after he was arrested by the police in Pampanga. Ecleo Jr. is the son of PBMA founder Ruben Ecleo Sr. Ecleo Sr. was called the Divine Master by members of the organization, which was widely perceived as a cult. By providing an email address. We are now checking if all the firearms were licensed. Ex-solon and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. now in police custody Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. still at large Find, get Ecleo, cops told Cops fail to find Ecleo at cult base Ecleo found guilty of killing wife 10 years ago SC denies Ecleo plea, affirms jail sentence Cult leader Ruben Ecleos arrest looms as court junks his plea Cult member: Ecleo didn't hide after wife's death Cult leader snubs parricide hearing Graft ruling to put cult chief back in jail Court junks appeal of 'cult' leader Ecleo Cult member convicted for illegal guns Ecleo's graft conviction affirmed Bacolod family still lives in fear Only one of 8 Ecleo men convicted Cult leader gets 30 years in prison for corruption Girl identifies accused killer Prosecution panel rests its case vs cult leader Ecleo Ecleo 'close to death' Ecleo follower charged in lawyer's slay Cult member accused of molesting teenager 3 more cultists charged with Cebu lawyer's slay 8 Ecleo cult members with high-powered guns nabbed Witnesses positively identify suspect in Yongco murder Cult leader's body rotting at compound Cebu judge frees cult master Ecleo on P1-million bail bond Ecleo runs for mayor from jail Ecleo's wife was killed by her brother - witness Witness testifies she saw Ecleo in Dalaguete with black bag Cult leader rocks Cebu jailhouse Ecleo case crawls on a year after Group out to dismantle PBMA Cult chief Ecleo arraigned, but refuses to enter plea Fiscal files charges vs cult leader, guards Roperos: The Ecleo case Cult members bullying witness/police 'No God in Jail' Ecleo Recruiting Fellow Jailbirds at Cebu City Jail Cebu: Bishop who has been fighting cult sees return of flock to church Ecleo's group not a cult, says follower Cult leader lords it over in jail Ecleo Faces More Charges Cult chief: Saint to followers, a criminal to his critics Cult leader tests positive for drug use 23 Surigao Cultists Killed as Law Enforcers Arrest Ruben Ecleo, Jr. Philippine Sect, Police Clash, Over 12 Said Dead Philippines shoot-out leaves 17 dead Cebu: Ultimatum on Ecleo lapses PBMA members insist group no cult PBMA founder a 'Christ-like' figure, Ex-solon and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. now in police custody, Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. still at large, Ecleo found guilty of killing wife 10 years ago, SC denies Ecleo plea, affirms jail sentence, Cult leader Ruben Ecleos arrest looms as court junks his plea, Cult member: Ecleo didn't hide after wife's death, Graft ruling to put cult chief back in jail, Court junks appeal of 'cult' leader Ecleo, Cult leader gets 30 years in prison for corruption, Prosecution panel rests its case vs cult leader Ecleo, Cult member accused of molesting teenager, 3 more cultists charged with Cebu lawyer's slay, 8 Ecleo cult members with high-powered guns nabbed, Witnesses positively identify suspect in Yongco murder, Cebu judge frees cult master Ecleo on P1-million bail bond, Ecleo's wife was killed by her brother - witness, Witness testifies she saw Ecleo in Dalaguete with black bag, Cult chief Ecleo arraigned, but refuses to enter plea, Fiscal files charges vs cult leader, guards, Ecleo Recruiting Fellow Jailbirds at Cebu City Jail, Cebu: Bishop who has been fighting cult sees return of flock to church, Cult chief: Saint to followers, a criminal to his critics. [5], Ecleo Jr. faced the parricide case before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court, Branch 23. Ecleo claimed he was at the PBMA chapter in Talisay City at the time Alona was killed. Police arrest fugitive cult leader and murder convict Ruben Ecleo [6], There is often violence between the PBMA, other Christian groups, and the security forces in the islands. In 2017, Ecleo, who had been on the run for six years, said he was willing to surrender on the condition that his two former lawyers, Orlando Salatandre Jr. and Giovanni Mata, be disbarred and his parricide case be reopened. He was sentenced to 31 years for this crime. Following the protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic now, Ecleo was admitted at the Reception and Diagnostics Center (RDC). As of 2013, the group claimed to have 140,000 members. The Manila Times estimates the group has raised at least PHP 35 million in entrance fees from its members since its founding. At least 50 PBMA members were arrested during the raid. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Ecleo was able to serve two years of his term before going into hiding.Despite the murder case and graft conviction, he was still able to win a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2010 election. Philstar Global Corp. All Rights Reserved. Ecleo claimed that the money given to PBMA Women's League was used for the maintenance of the municipal government's guest house. Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr arrested in Pampanga after years in hiding DILG most wanted Ruben Ecleo na may kasong graft dahil sa renovation ng gusali ng kaniyang kulto sa Dinagat Islands, natimbog ng NCRPO sa Pampanga. "He died of cardio pulmonary arrest at 12:20 pm today," said BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel P. Chaclag. And accordingly, he was in NCR (National Capital Region) so the informant came from the Dinagat Island and proceeded to Manila and coordinated with our operatives and gave us an idea where Ecleo was hiding, said Sinas. However, the case dragged on because six judges recused. IDL/rga. Ecleo recovered from COVID-19 over a week ago, he . The Department of Agriculture is considering proposals to require restaurants and eateries to disclose their sources of meat Philippines to send fewer delegates to World Youth Day. MANILA, Philippines The Bureau of Corrections on Thursday said high-profile inmate Ruben Ecleo Jr., who was convicted on murder and graft charges, died that afternoon when his heart. Peras found Ecleo guilty of parricide and convicted him to reclusion perpetua, or at least 30 years in prison. PBMA followers also viewed Ecleo Sr. as a Christ-like figure, who could accomplish anything by reciting the Mantra, and like the Christ of the Bible, was also able to resurrect the dead. 1 most wanted fugitive on the interior department's list and who had been in hiding since 2011, was. Prior to his conviction for parricide, Ecleo was also found guilty of graft charges in 2006 for illegal disbursement of funds involving three construction projects when he was still the mayor of San Jose, in Surigao del Norte from 1991 to 1994. All Rights Reserved. He did not resist arrest. Ruben Ecleo, Jr., the former lawmaker who was found guilty of murdering his wife, died on Thursday, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said. An armed clash took place in the Dinagat Islands when members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas were met by armed members of the PBMA on June 19, 2002, when they attempted to serve Ecleo with the arrest warrant then. During the raid, four members of his dead wife's family, including Candy Ecleo, were gunned down by a member of the PBMA security force in a possible cover-up attempt; the assailant was killed by police moments later, while attempting to flee the scene. Si Ruben Ecleo, Jr. iyo an pamayo kan Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Incorporated.Siya an nagsalo kan liderato kan kasararoan na ini kan an saiyang ama, si Ruben Ecleo, Sr. nagadan kan taon 1987.. Sa presente, siya nagtatago asin dai pa nasisikop huli ta may aresto saiyang naghahalat gibo kan orden kan Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Cebu City na an nasabing korte nakua siyang . Melvin Buenafe, the Cebu City Police director at the time, order all City Police Stations to display the wanted pictures. Ecleo was arrested with his trusted man and driver Benjie Fernan who was collared for harboring a fugitive and obstruction of justice. Ruben Jr is the son of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) founder Ruben Ecleo. By Coconuts Manila Jul 30, 2020 | 4:00pm Manila time Ruben Ecleo Jr., former Dinagat Islands congressman and "supreme master" of religious group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, is now under police custody after several years of being convicted of graft and his wife's murder. The raid had begun after negotiations had broken down and approximately 2,000 PBMA followers had surrounded Ecelo's mansion and barred all access. NBA Academy Africa big man, Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound class of 2023 center, is down to five schools: Tennessee, Florida, Rutgers, Washington State, and Santa Clara. He was then sentenced to 31 years in jail for the crimes. Such an incident occurred in 2000 when approximately one hundred members of the rival Pulahan sect launched an assault on a PBMA shrine on the island of Dinagat, in turn two hundred PBMA members counterattacked and hacked to death ten Pulahan followers as well as their leader Edecio Quinanola. Only 37.38 percent or 1.44 million in value of the new building was finished. For context, always refer to the full article. Ruben Ecleo Jr., the elusive controversial cult leader who was convicted for killing his wife, was finally arrested after nine years in hiding in San Fernando City, Pampanga Thursday. | CDN FILE PHOTO. Please try again. Sign up now! Her body was found three days later. Former Representative of Dinagat Islands and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. (Photo courtesy of NCRPO) MANILA - Police operatives on Thursday morning arrested former Representative of Dinagat Islands and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. in Pampanga.. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. - Wikipedia Don't miss out on the latest news and information. And who are the people behind it? A certain Cedric Divinadira came forward as a surprise witness during the trial to testify that he worked for Ben and knew of his plans to kill Alona. Ex-congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr finally nabbed in Pampanga - RAPPLER Rappler.com. Aside from his life sentence for the death of Alona, Ecleo also faces a 31-year jail term after the Sandiganbayan, in 2006, found him guilty of three counts of graft during his stint as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Island for overpaying for the construction of two municipal buildings and for spending public funds for a womens center owned by his group, the PBMA. You can run but you cannot hide from the PNP. According to court documents, Bacolod was strangled inside her home and was later found in a ravine in Dalaguete town, about 87 kilometers south of Cebu City, wrapped in a garbage bag. Amulets didn't stop bullets | Philstar.com Ecleo finally surrendered to police at 9:00 am the following day. Ruben Jr. was a mayor of San Jose town while Romeo Ecleo was a vice mayor of. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday issued a warning about the potential risks posed by heavy rainfall in the vicinity of Mayon Volcano. Barangay Ginebra aims to score a hat-trick of leg wins as the PBA 3x3 blasts off the Season 3 First Conference Leg 3 today at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The court also ordered Ecleo to pay P25 million in compensatory damages to his wife's family. Pasig MCW Sports fended off Bataans final assault to prevail, 70-67, on Saturday and bolster its playoff bid in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika PIlipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bataan Peoples Center in Balanga City. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. 1 most wanted on the Department of the Interior and Local Government's list. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Police also arrested Ecleos driver identified as Benjie Relacion Fernan for alleged obstruction in the arrest of the former lawmaker. Ruben Ecleo Jr Biography - Political Career, Religion, Court Verdict