A witness in the kidnapping and murder of Eleuterio Salabas was killed by unidentified persons in Bacolod City Friday, the former barangay captain's brother-in-law, Tom Orola, yesterday said.

Orola told the DAILY STAR they are still confirming the motive behind the death of Raul Arellano who was waylaid, mauled and stabbed dead by still unidentified persons. He said they could not conclude that Arellano's death has something to do with the Salabas case yet, but they are gathering information about his death. Orola said Arellano who was with the accused when they brought Salabas to a resort in Cadiz City had executed his affidavit in favor of the Salabas.

Salabas and his nephew Maximo Lomoljo and Ricardo Suganob were kidnapped and murdered by 21 accused, 10 of them policemen, in Bacolod City in August 2003.

Lorraine "Lulu" Abay, one of the accused who was arrested in Dipolog City, yesterday vehemently denied involvement in the crime.

In an interview over Aksyon Radyo, Abay claimed she had no idea that she was among the accused facing the charges for the death of Salabas and his companions.

Orola said the arrest of Abay was a good development and he is grateful that the Dipolog PNP.

Abay, 30, said she was at a bar when a Dipolog policeman approached and asked her if they could talk. She said she was shocked when the police informed her she had an arrest warrant.

The arresting policemen did not presented an arrest warrant against her, but furnished her the copy when they arrived at the police station, she said.

She said she left Bacolod City for Dipolog a day before the death of Salabas and his nephew Maximo Lomoljo and Ricardo Suganob, where she has lived for four years. She had no idea that the Guihulngan Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant against her, she said.

Abay, who denied being a police asset, said she decided to transfer to Dipolog for her safety after the death of police asset Joefel Clemente in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, in August 2003. Abay is still detained in the lock-up cell of the Dipolog PNP.*DMG

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