Marantan, 10 cops in Atimonan massacre post bail, freed

Supt. Hansel Marantan and 10 of his coaccused in the “Atimonan massacre” case were freed on Thursday after they posted bail, a  police official said.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said Marantan and his coaccused were released from the PNP Custodial Center at around 9 p.m. on Thursday.

“They’re now out on bail. They will have to appear before the court,” Carlos said.

Marantan and his coaccused were charged with multiple murder for killing 13 men at a checkpoint along Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon, on Jan. 6, 2013.

But on Feb. 28, Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Liwliwa Didalgo Bucu allowed the accused to post bail, saying the prosecution failed to “prove that the evidence of guilt of the accused…is strong.”

Marantan was  team leader of  “Coplan: Armado,” an operation  to go after Victor Siman, an alleged gambling lord. Marantan was then deputy intelligence chief for  Calabarzon.

Siman was  with 12 others on  two vehicles bound for  Calamba City when they encountered Marantan’s group at a checkpoint in Atimonan.