The murder charges filed against 12 policemen for their alleged participation in the killing of a police asset in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City in August 2003, will not affect the operations of the Bacolod City police office, its director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar said yesterday.

Quebrar said he could not say if the murder charges filed against the policemen were just meant to harass them, but added that the police officers had been active drug busters in the city. He said the accused policemen should answer the complaints against them, but they deserve due process. He also said he has not yet received a copy of formal complaint against them and therefore could not act on it yet.

Quebrar said he will request the accused policemen who are members of the BCPO to come to his office to clarify their side and he will see if there is merit in the case and possibly seek legal assistance from the Police Regional Office 6. On Monday, Rosalie Clemente, aunt of Joefel Clemente, filed murder charges or violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code against the accused who are former and present members of the Bacolod City Police Office and Negros Occidental Police Office, before the City Prosecutor's Office.

Clemente filed the case based on the sworn statements of trisikad driver Reynaldo Malde and Cecil Brillantes, alias "Giant" who was earlier tagged as the prime suspect in Clemente's death.

However, a Regional Trial Court judge dismissed the murder charges against Brillantes last week for insufficiency of evidence. Named respondents in the murder case are Senior Insp. Jonathan Lorilla and Chief Insp. Clarence Dongail with direct participation and knowledge of Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza, PO2 Allen Winston Hulleza, SPO2 Freddie Natividad, PO2 Ruel Villacanas, PO2 Dennis Belandres, PO1 Bernardo Cimatu Jr., SPO1 Nelson Grijaldo, SPO1 George Bejemino, a certain "Malate" and civilian asset Freddie Ballares, court records show.

Lorilla, Dongail, Fortaleza and Natividad were also named respondents in the kidnapping and murder case of former Brgy. Pahanocoy Captain Eleuterio Salabas, Ricardo Suganob Jr and Maximo Lomoljo in Bacolod City on Aug. 30, 2003.*DMG

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