Ecleo runs for mayor from jail

Ecleo does a Jalosjos

Philippine Star/January 16, 2004
By Ben Serrano

Surigao City -- Jailed cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. is doing a Jalosjos as he is running again as mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte.

Ecleo is locked up in Cebu City, facing parricide charges for the killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod.

He is expected to win handily in the mayoralty race since majority of the residents of San Jose town are members of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), of which he is the supreme leader.

Former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos also ran - and won - as second district congressman of Zamboanga del Norte while behind bars for the rape of a minor.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld Jalosjos' double life sentence, prompting the House of Representatives to drop him from its roster.

Ecleo's father, Ruben Sr., who founded the PBMA 40 years ago, served as the first mayor of San Jose, one of seven towns on Dinagat Island.

Ecleo's uncle, Moises, also served at one time as governor of Surigao del Norte.

Running under the administration party Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats), Ecleo is teamed up with re-electionist Vice Mayor Zacarias Vales.

In his municipal council line-up are his brother Allan, Nonoy Medallo, Cecil Zuñiga, Toting Maybuena, Lourdes Ecleo, Boy Alcala, Sol Lapinaria and Zosimo Bua, who are mostly incumbents.

Ecleo's two other siblings are incumbent mayors of other municipalities on Dinagat Island.