Aquino agrees Quezon shooting was rubout; orders DOJ to file raps vs Marantan, Melad

President Benigno Aquino III FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – 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.’’

The officers recommended to be charged by the Department of Justice were Chief Superintendent James Melad, former director of the Calabarzon police, and Supt. Hansel Marantan, team leader of the police team involved in the alleged shootout.

“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.

The officers will be charged with multiple murder charges.

“Ultimately the NBI probe reached the conclusion that no shootout occurred, thus validating the initial result of the PNP fact-finding committee. The probe findings also showed that the victims were summarily executed and all indications point to a rubout,’’ Valte said, quoting portions of the executive summary of the NBI report.

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.

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 alleged jueteng operator Victor Siman.