Belmonte explained that all three cases are interrelated and that one is still pending before the Supreme Court.
“All of which are interrelated and one case is still pending in the Supreme Court which in my view has some repercussions on three cases,” Belmonte told reporters.
The House Speaker stressed that he is diligently monitoring the status of Ecleo’s cases so that appropriate action can be made in accordance to the existing rules of the House.
“I’ve been following it up and I’ve been promised that the decision is forthcoming, so I’d rather wait for that decision. What we will do is simply drop him from the roll without any hullabaloo,” Belmonte said.
He said they can remove the name of Ecleo after receiving the certified copy of the final and executory ruling of the SC on his graft case.
Earlier, the House of Representatives dropped former Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson from the roll due to his involvement in a drug case in Hongkong. Singson has been convicted and is serving time in the former British colony. Singson resigned after being convicted by a Hongkong court.
Belmonte said that there is no indication that the Dinagat Islands lawmaker will also resign like Singson.
On Oct. 13, 2006, the Sandiganbayan First Division convicted Ecleo, and two others in connection with the illegal disbursement of funds in three construction projects during his term as mayor of San Jose Dinagat in Surigao del Norte between 1991 and 1994. He was meted from 18 to 31 years imprisonment. -Gerry Baldo/Tribune
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