The Supreme Court Third Division has affirmed a decision finding two former Bacolod police officers guilty beyond reasonable doubt for three counts of murder and three counts of arbitrary detention involving a former barangay captain and two maritime instructors.
The SC adopted the findings of the Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Regional Trial Court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals sentencing former Police Insp. Clarence Dongail and SPO4 Jimmy Fortaleza to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, for three counts of murder, or 120 years imprisonment, with additional penalties for arbitrary detention.
They are detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
They were accused for the kidnapping and murder of former Pahanocoy, Bacolod, barangay captain Eleuterio Salabas and his companions Ricardo Suganob and Maximo Lomloljo Jr. in 2003.
A copy of the SC order was furnished DIGICAST NEGROS by former Rep. John Orola, brother-in-law of Salabas, today, January 12.
The SC also ordered the two policemen to jointly pay the amount of P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, and P100,000 in exemplary damages to the kin of each of their victims.
They were also ordered to pay the kin of Salabas P4.4 million, Suganob P2.7 million and Lomoljo P400,000 in loss of earning capacity.
They were also ordered to pay damages of P3.5 million for Salabas, P1.5 million for Suganob, and P50,000 for Lomoljo.*