Marantan, Melad et al. face multiple murder charges over Quezon rubout

MANILA, Philippines–Multiple murder charges will be filed against 21 members of the Philippine National Police and 14 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in connection with the Atimonan incident that led to the death of 13 people including police officers and an environmentalist.

Facing multiple murder case include Chief Superintendent James Melad and Superintendent Hansel Marantan.

Aside from the two, also included to be charged are the following:

Senior Inspector John Paolo Carracedo, Senior Police Officer 1 Arturo Sarmiento, Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Senior Inspector Timoteo Orig, Senior Police Officer 3 Joselito De Guzman, Senior Police Officer 1 Carlo Cataquiz, Police Officer 3 Eduardo Oronan, PO2 Nelson Indal, PO2 Al Bhazar Jailani, PO1 Wryan Sardea, PO1 Rodel Talento, PCI Grant Gollod, Inspectors Ferdinand Aguilar, Evaristo San Juan, PO3 Benedict Dimayuga, PO2 Ronnie Serdena, PO1 Esperidion Corpuz Jr., PO1 Bernie De Leon and PO1 Allen Ayubo.

AFP personnel to be charged are Lieutenant Colonel Monico Abang, the Battalion Commander, Captain Erwin Macalinao, 1Lieutenant Rico Tagure, Technical Sergeant Melanio Balauitan, Cpl. Clark Magusara, Private First Class Michael Franco, PFC Kirby-Tam Coronel, PFC Alvin Roque Pabon, PFC Ricky Jay Borja, PFC Melvin Lumalang, PFC Gil Gallego, Private Marc Zaldy Docdoc, PVT. Emergin Barrete and PVT. Michard Manago.

“Police Superintendent Marantan claimed that he had reliable information proving that private armed groups were being utilized not only in illegal numbers game but also in the illegal drugs trade and also by politicians for the liquidation of their political opponents,”  the NBI report stated which was adopted in full by Malacañang.

“Unfortunately, in a classic case of intelligence failure, the identities of the other occupants of the vehicles were not accurately established before the actual operation, thus resulting to the senseless massacre of innocent victims,” the NBI added.

“Ultimately, the NBI probe reached the conclusion that no shootout occurred, thus, validating the initial result of the PNP fact finding committee,” the NBI added.

“The probe findings also showed that the victims were summarily executed and all indications point to a ‘rub out’…The Atimonan, [Quezon] encounter was a well calculated plan to close the book on Vic Siman under the pretext of Coplan Armado, using government forces and resources. The fault of the other victims was that they were with the wrong company, at the wrong place and at the wrong time,” the NBI findings stated.

President Benigno Aquino III has endorsed the filing of multiple murder charges against key police officers over their alleged role in the January 6 shootout in Atimonan, Quezon that left 13 alleged criminals dead, agreeing that this was a “rubout.’’

“After a thorough review of the NBI executive report of the incident in Atimonan, Quezon, the President has accepted its findings in full. He has directed the Secretary of Justice, Leila de Lima, to file the appropriate criminal and administrative against Hansel Marantan, James Melad and others,’’ Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, announced in a briefing.

Three police officers and 10 others were killed in the alleged 20-minute gun battle at a checkpoint on a sparsely populated stretch of Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon on January 6.

Marantan, leader of the team manning the checkpoint, was the only one hurt among 50 policemen and members of the Army special forces that allegedly shot it out with the group of  Siman.

 Originally posted at 2:20 p.m.