Cebu City, Philippines - The Supreme Court has ruled that the trial of the parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. will stay in Cebu City.
The Supreme Court's Second Division, in a resolution dated March 16, rejected for lack of merit the second petition of Ecleo to transfer the venue of the trial of his case from Cebu City to Manila.
Ecleo said he wanted the venue changed due to what he said was a hostile environment in Cebu City.
Ecleo is facing parricide charges for the death of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, on Jan. 5, 2002. The decomposing body of Alona was found in Barangay (village) Coro, Dalaguete town, some 85 km south of Cebu City, two days after her family reported her missing.
Ecleo has posted bail of one million pesos.