Atimonan probe starts April 18

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) has set for April 8 the start of the preliminary investigation of 25 policemen and soldiers led by P/Supt. Hansel Marantan who are charged in the murder of 13 men in Atimonan, Quezon, on Jan. 6.

The DOJ on March 19 issued the subpoenas for the 25 security personnel that were issued by a five-member DOJ special panel led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva.

“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered a waiver to present your defense in this preliminary investigation and the case shall be considered submitted,” said Villanueva in two separate subpoenas for the police and military members.

Marantan and the other officers were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation with the murder of 13 men led by suspected “jueteng” operator Vic Siman and several police and military officials.

They were gunned down at a joint police-military checkpoint on a highway in Atimonan, with Marantan et al. claiming it was a legitimate operation. The NBI, however, said its findings showed it was a rubout.—Christine O. Avendaño