Peras to address inhibition call if prosecution seeks it

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Branch 10 judge Soliver Peras said that he will just have to answer calls asking for his disqualification from hearing the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo Jr. if the prosecution will file their motion for inhibition before the court.

Yesterday, reports came out that Peras was asked by Crusade Against Violence national vice president Thelma Chiong to inhibit from the parricide case for the reason that he and Ecleo’s lead counsel Orlando Salatandre come from the same town in Zamboanga.

Chiong expressed concern not only because they come from the same town but also as to why Peras did not immediately put this fact out in the open.

The panel of lawyers prosecuting the parricide case said that they will discuss the matter next week and will address the said issue.

Chiong said that she has nothing against Peras personally and admitted that they have not noticed anything that may indicate he cannot be impartial.

Chiong was the one who wrote the Supreme Court to ask that a re-raffling of the case be conducted.

Peras got the case after the re-raffle held last week of the parricide case against the cult leader who is accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod. 

The other judges who handled the Ecleo case before Peras were Galicano Arriesgado, who issued the original warrant for Ecleo’s arrest; Olegario Sarmiento, who denied the motion to quash it; Generosa Labra, who granted him bail; Anacleto Caminade, who signed the release order; and Ireneo Gako Jr., who was the first to begin hearing the case with Ecleo out of jail and Geraldine Faith Econg.  — Jasmin R. Uy/BRP (THE FREEMAN)