The police operation plan carried out by Supt. Hansel Marantan purportedly to neutralize a crime ring was a “mere subterfuge” to kill a competitor in “jueteng” that has continued to flourish despite well-publicized government pledges to eliminate the illegal numbers racket, investigators said.
Sacked Chief Supt. James Melad has admitted he approved the police blockade in Atimonan, Quezon province, where officers under his command and Army soldiers killed 13 alleged criminals on Jan. 6.
Sacked Chief Superintendent James Melad, the former director of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regions, admitted he gave the go-signal to put up the checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon, on January 6 where 13 people were killed.
January 5, the day before they met their end in Atimonan, Quezon province, the victims, coming from various places, met up with Victor “Vic” Siman at Turbina bus terminal in Calamba, Laguna. They boarded two sports utility vehicles belonging to Siman and the group drove to Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte, according to a relative of one of the victims.
Even if disapproved, “Coplan Armado” will still push through because approval from the Presidential Anti-Organize Crime Commission (PAOCC) was for funding purposes only, Chief Superintendent James Melad, former Regional Director for Region IV-A of Calabarzon said Wednesday.
The top police official in southern Luzon on Monday insisted that the police operation in Atimonan town, Quezon province, that led to the killing of 13 alleged criminals on Jan. 6 was legitimate despite an initial finding by police investigators that use of excessive force led to so many deaths.
The Senate will open an inquiry into the killing of 13 people in a supposed shootout between government security forces and alleged criminals in Atimonan town, Quezon province, on Jan. 6.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) did not approve a proposed police operation against alleged “jueteng” operator Victor “Vic” Siman because it was a potentially bloody business, the Inquirer learned on Saturday.
