Police Chief Supt. Geary Barias yesterday advised the 10 policemen implicated in the kidnap-slay of a former Bacolod barangay captain and his two companions, and who were also denied bail, to write PNP chief Oscar Calderon if they wish for legal assistance.

Barias, director of the Investigation and Detective Management, said any request for legal assistance will be studied, to determine if it is job related. Four more policemen identified as Senior Inspector Bonifer Gotas, SPO1 Nelson Grijaldo, Police Officers 2 Dennis Belandres and Ruel Villacanas were added to the list of suspects who have been charged in court, for the deaths of former Pahanocoy Brgy.Capt. Elueterio Salabas and his two companions - Maximo Lomoljo and Ricardo Suganob - in August 2003.

Earlier, warrants of arrest had been issued against Chief Insp. Clarence Dongail, SPO2 Freddie Natividad, Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza, PO1 Bernardo Cimatu, PO2 Allen Winston Hulleza, and Senior Insp. Jonathan Lorilla for the kidnapping and murder of the victims.

The National Police Commission has created a legal assistance office for policemen who are charged with offenses related to the performance of their official duties.

The legal assistance program for policemen is outlined under Resolution No. 2006-347 recently released by the Napolcom, is in accordance with Section 49 of RA 6975.

Barias said any letter requesting legal assistance will be studied to determine its merit.

The Napolcom also said the creation of a legal assistance office will help expedite the resolution of cases against policemen, and in turn, help ensure that erring cops are brought to justice at the soonest possible, while clearing the names of those who have done nothing wrong.

The 10 respondent policemen in the kidnap-slay charges are still at-large. Gotas who is the deputy director of the 613rd Provincial Mobile Group, is on a three-month study leave in Cebu, police records show.

Cecil Brillantes, alias Giant, who implicated Gotas, Grijaldo, Belandres and Villacanas in the killing of Suganob, Lomoljo and Salabas, also linked Senior Supts. Vicente Ponteras and George Bajelot, former BCPO directors to the crime in his sworn statements.

Dongail, Fortaleza, Lorilla, Hullleza, Natividad, Villacanas, Belandres, Cimatu, Grijaldo and SPO1 George Bejemino are also facing murder charges in court, in connection with the death of former police asset Joefel Clemente in Brgy.Mandalagan, Bacolod City, also in August 2003.*GPB

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