MANILA, Philippines – Over 8 months since the Atimonan incident that led to the killing of 13 men, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed multiple murder charges against Supt Hansel Marantan and 12 police officers.

On Thursday, September 19, the DOJ confirmed filing murder charges against the 13 with the regional trial court in Gumaca, Quezon.

Judge Maria Chona Pulgar Navarro of RTC Branch 61 will hear the case.

The department, citing insufficient evidence, also cleared former Calabarzon director Chief Supt James Melad and 11 soldiers of criminal liability.

Government prosecutors recommended no bail for the accused.

The cases come after the DOJ’s 6-month preliminary investigation following recommendations of murder charges from the NBI. At that time, the NBI recommended the filing of murder charges against Marantan and 20 other PNP personnel as well as against 14 soldiers.

On January 6, a total of 13 suspected members of a robbery gang were killed in what police at the time said was a shootout with 23 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and 25 members of the military.

After investigating witnesses and consolidating statements from the police and army units in the area, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concluded that the policemen and soldiers involved in the operation had planned to kill the suspects.

Marantan was in charge of the checkpoint in Atimonan, the location of the shooting. The NBI report, submitted to Malacañang on February 7, said Marantan’s involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng allegedly pushed him to hatch a plan that led to the killings.

The DOJ’s 43-page resolution, approved by Arellano, agreed, stating, “The NBI submitted credible evidence proving that some of the victims were shot at close range, thereby negating the version of the police that there was a legitimate firefight.”

The NBI said that the supposed encounter in Atimonan – called “Coplan Armado” – was conceived based on intelligence information gathered by Marantan that Vic Siman, the alleged leader of the gang, and his people were members of private armed groups hired by jueteng and drug lords.

READ: Who stood to benefit from Atimonan killings?

The DOJ also concluded that the “checkpoint” in Atimonan was intended to kill Siman and company because of numerous violations in police operational procedures and Marantan’s personal tiff with Siman.

“The plan to eliminate the group of Vic Siman became apparent when respondent Marantan, together with respondents (Grant) Gollod and (Ramon) Balauag, put up a three-layered checkpoint, which in the first place, was highly irregular and non-conforming to common and established procedures on checkpoints,” the DOJ said.

“In this case, treachery is present when the respondents employed the checkpoint as a means to execute the crime of murder giving the victims no opportunity to defend themselves.”

The following have been charged with multiple murder counts before the Gumaca RTC:

• PSupt Hansel Marantan
• PSupt Ramon Balauag
• PCInsp Grant Gollod
• PSInsp John Paolo Carracedo
• PSInsp Timoteo Orig
• SPO3 Joselito de Guzman
• SPO1 Carlo Cataquiz
• SPO1 Arturo Sarmiento
• PO3 Eduardo Oronan
• PO2 Nelson Indal
• PO2 Al Bhazar Jailani
• PO1 Wryan Sardea
• PO1 Rodel Talento

To be charged with obstruction of justice are:

• PSInsp John Paolo Carracedo
• Army Lt Col. Rico Tagure (but cleared of multiple murder)

Meanwhile, the following have been  cleared of multiple murder charges:

• PCSupt James Melad
• Lt Col Monico Abang
• Capt Erwin Macalinao
• Corporal Roguo Tejares
• PFC Ricky Jay Borja
• PFC Michael Franco
• PFC Gilm Gallego
• PFC Melvin Lumalang
• PFC Alvin Roque Pabon
• Pvt Emergin Barrete
• Pvt. Marc Zaldy Docdoc

Cleared of obstruction of justice charges are officers from the Quezon PNP Crime Laboratory:

• PCINsp Zaide Abrera
• PInsp Dickson Mercado
• SPO1 Meldt Arojo
• SPO1 Analiza Burcelango
• PO3 Nestor Abuan
• PO3 Archie Avila
• PO2 Bayani Gonzales

– Rappler.com