In his first media interview after his arrest five months ago, Chief Inspector Clarence Dongail yesterday said active police officers have helped him and his fellow former cops after they were tagged in the abduction and killing of Eleuterio Salabas, Maximo Lomoljo, and Ricardo Suganob nearly five years ago.

Dongail told Aksyon Radyo that he cannot blame the Philippine National Police officers who helped him and the 11 other former policemen accused of abducting and murdering Salabas, Lomoljo, and Suganob in August 2003.

“They helped us because they knew that the cases against us were fabricated,” Dongail said.

Dongail was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation operatives at a mall in Manila on December 14 last year.

He also said that because of the “fabricated” charges against them, his former colleagues cannot be blamed for not arresting them as soon as the court issued the arrest warrants against them.

Dongail confirmed that a number of active officers are definitely sympathizing with them, but declined to say whether these cops are senior, or rank and file members of the PNP.

Dongail claimed that since their absence from the service, other police officers have been afraid to apprehend illegal drug personalities.

He also said he has already forgiven Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for saying that he is an alleged protector of illegal drug activities in Western Visayas.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, refused to comment on Dongail’s statements.

Salabas’ widow, Elizabeth, on the other hand, asked how Dongail could say that they made-up the charges against them when they pushed through the case when several witnesses have surfaced through the media.

Twelve ex-police officers, including former BCPO chiefs George Bajelot and Vicente Ponteras are still the subject of a nationwide manhunt for the charge of kidnapping with murder against them.

SPO2 Freddie Natividad was arrested in Jaro, Iloilo City, by his former classmate about a month after Dongail’s arrest.

The other former PNP members accused are Inspector Jonathan Lorilla, Bonifer Gotas, SPO4 Jimmy Fortaleza, SPO1 Nelson Grijaldo, PO2's Allen Winston Hulleza, Nelson Belandres, Ruel Villacanas, and PO1 Bernardo Cimatu.

Also included in the charges are businessman Manolo Escalante, Ronnie Herera, Carlo de los Santos alias “Caloy”, Mamerto, Elma, and Nelson, all surnamed Cañete, Jude Montilla, and Ramonito Estanislao, who are also at large.*PP

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