"The law is the law."

This is what Bacolod City Police Office director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar yesterday said of their stand on the arrest warrants against two former police chiefs who have been implicated in the kidnap-murder case of former Barangay Pahanocoy chairman Eleuterio Salabas in 2003.

"We will arrest them, whoever they are," Quebrar said of former BCPO chiefs Vicente Ponteras and George Bajelot, who are facing arrest for the kidnapping of Salabas in August 2003 with warrants issued by a Regional Trial Court judge in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros Tuesday.

Quebrar added that he knows that Ponteras and Bajelot understand that they will just be doing their job in serving the warrants after they receive copies of the orders. Ponteras had said that he is innocent of the "unjust" charges against him, adding that he does not know what the motive of the Salabas family is in including him and Bajelot in the case when they know they had no part in the kidnapping.

Salabas' widow, Elizabeth, however, said that their inclusion in the case was based on the testimonies of witnesses which were considered by the Department of Justice and not solely on her decision. She also said that she appreciates Quebrar's stand on the matter, adding that she hopes he will do what he said, once they receive the orders.

The inclusion of Ponteras and Bajelot in the Salabas kidnap-slay case brings to 12 the number of former policemen accused for the kidnap-slay.

Other police officers named as respondents are Inspectors Clarence Dongail, Jonathan Lorilla, Bonifer Gotas, SPO2 Freddie Natividad, SPO4 Jimmy Fortaleza, SPO1 Nelson Grijaldo, PO2's Allen Winston Hulleza, Nelson Belandres, Ruel Villacanas, and PO1 Bernardo Cimatu.*PP

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