Drama queens

Enough drama, and just submit to the investigation! This is essentially what DILG Sec. Roxas told Supt. Hansel Marantan, the head of the “checkpoint” that resulted in the deaths of thirteen people. Unlike his namesake, he seems to leave a trail of dead bodies instead of bread crumbs, what with several deadly shootings under his belt! The Atimonan, Quezon whatever you want to call it - shootout, ambush, rubout - has baffled everyone who has heard of it. The explanations of the team members that were involved in the encounter are as clear as the La Brea tar pits, or a more appropriate local metaphor would be the Pasig river! What is clear, based on photographs by those who were at the scene early, is that some aspects of the crime scene were arranged to substantiate the stories of the team. In other words, there was a tampering of evidence! And some bags seen on earlier photographs have also disappeared! Lord knows what these bags contain! Might be enough for some people to retire on!

Like that is even new to Philippine police incidents. One of the worst things that can happen to any common citizen is to be at the mercy of some elements of the Philippine National Police! We all know the stories of fabricated or planted evidence, or being held in exchange for money as what happened to the son of a high ranking police officer! If anything, the PNP has a problem with its credibility and image. Things that have made believing in the statements of the “checkpoint” team hard to swallow.

The PNP itself has come out, based on whatever investigation it has conducted, that there was no shootout. The NBI investigation practically is saying the same with more details. And now, the DOJ has at least three eyewitnesses who have shed light on what actually happened on that fateful day. And some of the details are just incredible, and contrary to what Marantan and whoever are adamantly saying that it was a legitimate and justified shooting!

It will be interesting to see what will come out in the coming days, what with witnesses in the hands of the DOJ. I can just imagine those involved in the non-shooting are scurrying to bury evidence, and probably get rid of whatever loot was taken, if any! I really hope that the real story does come out. If there were indeed criminals in the two SUVs, then they probably deserve what they got. But the manner by which they met their end, with the possibility that there may have been innocent people on board who were just at the wrong place and time, makes this incident a must for investigation. There are even talks that Marantan may have a personal stake in the whole thing, that's why the killings happened in the first place. What is even more incredible are the other killings that have something to do with the Atimonan incident. It smacks of blatant disregard for whatever authority the whole PNP still has over its men.

I agree. Enough drama, and let the truth come out. Otherwise, who knows who the next victims of a “checkpoint” will be?  It could be anyone.