Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said yesterday that reports of former Chief Inspector Clarence Dongail's alleged involvement in the drug cartel in the Visayas have reached his office.

Gonzales said Dongail, one of the principal suspects in the kidnap-slay case of barangay captain Eleuterio Salabas, Maximo Lomoljo, and Ricardo Suganob is stigmatized by his drug connections.

He said that although Dongail and co-accused SPO2 Freddie Natividad have been captured by the authorities, continued hiding of other suspects is a manifestation of strong evidence of guilt.

Both Dongail and Natividad are presently detained at the Guihungan District Jail in Negros Oriental.

Gonzales said he is aware of an appeal submitted to Malacañang for the reinvestigation of the case but so far, he has not receive an order on the case yet.

Earlier, Elizabeth Salabas, had expressed dismay over the reinvestigation order from the Office of the President, noting an intervention from Malacañang every time the case prospers.

Aside from Dongail and Natividad, also implicated in the August 2003 kidnap-slay case are former Bacolod City Police Office chiefs Vicente Ponteras and George Bajelot, 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.*NAB

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