Ecleo wins as congressman of Dinagat island

THE influential Ecleo political clan of Dinagat Island in the Caraga Region dominated the local elections there, according to the official tally of votes released by the Commission on Elections.

Cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., who is facing a parricide case in Cebu City for allegedly killing his wife in 2004, won the congressional race for representative of the lone district of Dinagat Island in northeastern Mindanao after garnering 33,582 votes.

Ecleo's votes, mostly from his supporters from the Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association (PBMA), were enough to sink his rival Francisco Rojas Sr. of the Liberal Party (LP), who got 5,443 votes.

Ecleo's mother Glenda, incumbent Dinagat Islands representative, won the gubernatorial race after obtaining 33,895. Her rival Harry Meso of the LP got only 5,029 votes.

Ecleo's sister Gwen-dolyn ran unopposed as mayor of Dinagat town, Dinagat Island.

The Ecleo political clan is allied with the administration party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Glenda, wife of the late PBMA divine master Ruben Ecleo Sr., used to run unopposed in past elections.

The other Ecleo siblings who also won in the elections were Joslyn Ecleo, who won in the Provincial Board (PB) race in the island's second district, and Jury and Lourdes Ecleo, also in the PB.

Ruben, the anointed supreme master of the PBMA and a former mayor of Dinagat town, was charged with killing his wife Alona Bacolod on Jan. 5, 2002.

Meanwhile, losing administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and running mate Edu Man-zano won in Dinagat Island in the presidential and vice presidential races, respectively. Teo-doro got 2,877 votes while Manzano got 2,612 votes.

Presidential front-runner Benigno Aquino III got only 677 votes while his running mate Mar Roxas got 834 votes. (sun-star)

Share: