A former kagawad tagged as one of the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of former Barangay Pahanocoy Captain Eleuterio Salabas and two others in Bacolod City in 2003 was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Station 3 policemen at his residence in Brgy. Bata yesterday.

The arrested suspect was identified as former Brgy. 2 Kagawad Elson Canete, 49, who is now a resident of Tongoy village in Brgy. Bata, by CIDG-Bacolod head, Chief Insp. Ernor Melegareho.

Melegareho said they arrested Canete at about 3 p.m. yesterday on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Mario Trinidad of Regional Trial Court Branch 64 of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, who denied him bail.

He said they have been looking for Canete for almost a week after a concerned citizen tipped them that there is an arrest warrant for him.

Canete, meanwhile, said he surrendered and was not arrested as he already knew about the arrest warrant. He also denied participation in the kidnapping and murder of Salabas, Ricardo Suganob and Maximo Lomoljo.

He said he was only implicated in the case as the boat, that allegedly transported the victims from Negros Occidental to Panay Island, was owned by his relative, Mamerto Canete.

Elson Canete said they had been asked by the camp of the victims to cooperate in the case so they will not be implicated but they could not as they really had no participation in it.

He also lamented that he was not able to get his honorarium for the services he rendered because an arrest warrant was issued against him.

Elizabeth Salabas, widow of Eleuterio Salabas, told the DAILY STAR that she is thankful for the arrest of another suspect in the slay of her husband.

She said that, hopefully, the other suspects in the killing of her husband, who include several former members of Bacolod City police and civilians, will also be arrested soon.

Former Bacolod policemen Senior Police Officer 2 Freddie Natividad, Chief Inspectors Clarence Dongail and Jimmy Fortaleza were meted 120 years by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in April this year for their alleged participation in the kidnapping of Salabas, Lomoljo and Suganob.

Salabas, Suganob and Lomoljo were kidnapped in Bacolod City on August 31, 2003, but their bodies were found in the rivers of Bago City and Pulupandan town, Negros Occidental, and in the shores of Ajuy in Iloilo province, several days later.

The Supreme Court had transferred the trial from the Regional Trial Court of Guihulngan, where the vehicle allegedly used in the kidnapping was found, to Metro Manila.*APN

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