SC affirms RTC ruling finding 2 ex-Bacolod cops guilty of 2003 kidnapping, killing of ex-village chief, 2 others

BACOLOD CITY –– The Supreme Court’s (SC) third division has affirmed a decision finding two former Bacolod policemen guilty of kidnapping and killing a former village chieftain and two other persons in 2003.

The High Court adopted the findings of the Regional Trial Court in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, as affirmed by the Court of Appeals that meted Police Insp. Clarence Dongail and SPO4 Jimmy Fortaleza with the penalty of reclusion perpetua for three counts of murder or 120 years imprisonment with additional penalties for arbitrary detention.

The SC also ordered the two policemen to jointly pay P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, and P100,000 in exemplary damages to the families of each of the victims.

They were also ordered to pay the kin of the late barangay captain Eleuterio Salabas of Pahanocoy, Bacolod P4.4 million, Ricardo Suganob P2.7 million, and Maximo Lomloljo Jr. P400,000 for the loss of the victim’s earning capacity.

The police officers were also ordered to pay damages of P3.5 million for Salabas, P1.5 million for Suganob, and P50,000 for Lomoljo.