The Department of Justice has dismissed the petition for review sought by retired Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras for the kidnapping charges filed against him over his alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of Eleuterio Salabas, Maximo Lomoljo, and Ricardo Suganob.

Promulgated on February 2 and signed by DOJ secretary Raul Gonzalez, the resolution said Ponteras’ petition was dismissed after no error was found on the cases filed by the Negros Oriental Provincial Prosecutor for kidnapping.

Section 12 of Department Circular No. 70 dated July 3, 2000 provides that the DOJ secretary may dismiss a petition appealing a resolution if there is no showing of any reversible error in the appealed resolution, the decision said.

Ponteras and his fellow former Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. George Bajelot, have been tagged in the killing of Salabas, Lomoljo, and Suganob in August 2003.

Other accused former police officers are Inspector 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.

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, are also included in the charges.*PP

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