Marantan, 12 others face murder raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday indicted 13 police officers led by former police Superintendent Hansel Marantan for the killing of alleged jueteng lord Vic Siman and 12 others in Atimonan, Quezon last Jan. 6.

The DOJ cleared former
Region IV-A police director Chief Superintendent James Andres Melad and the 11 Army officers who served as backup for the police team.

Melad was said to have authorized Marantan’s team to conduct the checkpoint operation against alleged members of a gun-for-hire group.

A case for 13 counts of murder was filed against Marantan and the members of his team before the Gumaca, Quezon regional trial court (RTC), according to Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

The case was assigned to Judge Maria Chona Pulgar-Navarro of RTC branch 61.

Aside from Marantan, the accused in the multiple murder case are Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Chief Inspector Grant Gollod, Senior Inspectors John Paolo Carracedo and Timoteo Orig, Senior Police Officer 3 Joselito de Guzman, Senior Police Officers 1 Arturo Sarmiento and Carlo Cataquiz, Police Officer 3 Eduardo Oronan, Police Officers 2 Nelson Indal and Bhazar Jailani, and Police Officers 1 Wryan Sardea and Rodel Talento.

A separate case for obstruction of justice was filed against Carracedo and Army Lt. Rico Tagure.

The cases were filed after a preliminary investigation conducted by a panel of prosecutors showed probable cause in similar charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last March.

“Treachery was present when the respondents set up the checkpoint to commit murder and give the victims no opportunity to defend their selves,” the panel, led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, said in the resolution.

The panel said they found evidence showing the Marantan-led police team conspired to eliminate the victims.

The prosecutors cited forensic evidence in holding the policemen liable for what Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had branded as a rubout.

“Forensic and chemical examination results showed that it was impossible for the victims to have fired guns from inside their vehicle as no burns, smudges and soot were found in it. Gunshots came from outside,” the panel said.

They said evidence submitted by the NBI investigators showing some of the victims were shot at close range refuted the claims by the police team that an exchange of fire transpired.

As to the obstruction of justice case, the DOJ said Carracedo tampered with the crime scene when he fired into the air the guns said to belong to the victims before placing these next to the bodies to make it appear that an encounter took place.

Tagure, the DOJ said, broke the glass windows of the two Montero sport utility vehicles of the victims and opened the door of the first SUV on orders of the respondents.

“With regard to respondent Melad, the evidence submitted failed to establish his participation in the conspiracy to kill the victims,” the panel explained.

Aside from Melad, cleared from multiple murder charges were Lt. Col. Monico Abang, who provided backup for the police team; Capt. Erwin Macalinao; Cpl. Rogelio Tejares; Privates First Class Michael Franco, Alvin Roque Pabon, Ricky Jay Borja, Melvin Lumalang and Gil Gallego; Privates Marc Zaldy Docdoc and Emergin Barrete, and Tagure.

The personnel of the PNP-Quezon Crime Laboratory who conducted forensic investigation at the crime scene were absolved from the obstruction of justice charges. They were Inspectors Zaide Abrera and Dickson Mercado, Senior Police Officers 1 Meldy Arojo and Analiza Burcelango, Police Officers 3 Nestor Abuan and Archie Avila, and Police Officer 2 Bayani Gonzales.

2 more accused cops went AWOL

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that Indal and Jailani had gone AWOL (absence without official leave) and could not be located along with their superior, Balauag.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said efforts to locate Balauag, who was relieved as chief of the Quezon police intelligence shortly after the Atimonan carnage, proved futile.

The PNP-Administrative Resource Management Division (ARMD) reported that Balauag has been AWOL since July 8.

Reports said Balauag left the country on a China Airlines flight last June 16. Records from the Bureau of Immigration showed he returned on July 27 on a Philippine Airlines flight.

The PNP earlier reported that Balauag went missing on July 8 but records showed he did not report to ARMD since June 16.

There was no information yet on when the two other policemen went AWOL.

Sindac said the cleared police officers could not yet be allowed to leave the PNP headquarters as the Internal Affairs Service has yet to resolve the administrative case filed against them in connection with the alleged rubout.

Marantan said the development of the case would discourage other policemen to go after criminals.

“That is so unfortunate for policemen who gamble their lives in the frontline. But I still welcome that development. I am very confident with my truth,” Marantan said in a text message.

“I will not escape. I will face the charges. You have my word,” he added.

– With Cecille Suerte Felipe