SC junks Marantan's plea to stop Atimonan probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has denied the petition of a ranking police officer to stop the probe of the Department of Investigation’s (DOJ) on the Atimonan incident where 13 people were killed.

The High Court's 3rd Division did not issue a temporary restraining order against the DOJ and stop the ongoing investigation on the multiple murder charges against Superintendent Hansel Marantan.

The SC instead ordered the DOJ to submit a comment on Marantan's petition within 10 days.

Marantan asked the SC to halt the DOJ panel of prosecutors' investigation against him in connection with the Atimonan shootout.

In his petition, Marantan belied the initial findings of the DOJ that there was no shootout between authorities and the group belonging to suspected jueteng kingpin Vic Siman, who was also killed in the incident.

"Hon. Leila De Lima, the Secretary of the Dept. of Justice and who has control and supervision over the respondent Panel of Prosecutors, had already declared, thus, prejudged, that the Atimonan encounter was 'definitely no shootout,' while the sole agency tasked to conduct the investigation of the incident had yet to conclude its task, and worse, even before all those involved had yet to submit their affidavits," Marantan said.

Last January 6, Marantan led a team of policemen and soldiers against suspected gambling personalities. The operation ended in the bloody shooting of 13 people, including suspected gambling lord Vic Siman and police and military officers.

Aside from Marantan, former Calabarzon regional chief James Melad was charged with multiple murder for the killing of Siman's group.

Twelve other policemen involved in the operations were also charged with murder.