The Philippine National Police turns over its 8-page fact-finding report to the National Bureau of Investigation…
but there is one missing ingredient…. an official statement from Supt Hansel Marantan.

Marantan, who was injured in the Quezon shooting that killed 13, was the head of the checkpoint.

He is in the hospital, where he refuses to speak to police.

Unconfirmed reports allege Marantan is a member of a criminal gang in conflict with Victor “Vic” Siman, the head of a rival gang.

Siman and his 12 men were in the car that fateful night in Atimonan.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says the PNP respects Marantan’s right as a suspect to stay silent… but pushes him to speak to the NBI.

MAR ROXAS, INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY:

Kaya pinapayuhan ko po si Superintendent Marantan na sumailalim po kayo kung ayaw ninyo sa PNP ay sa NBI process. Hindi maganda sa katauyan ninyo na hindi sumasama sa transparent na proseso para malaman ang buong katotohanan.

(I advise Supt Marantan to submit himself to the process, if not to the PNP, to the NBI. It doesn’t reflect well on you if you do not join this transparent process that is seeking the truth).

Roxas says the PNP also relieved Chief Supt James Melad, the regional director of Calabarzon, who was initially spared from charges.

The PNP promises to investigate all the cops involved in the shooting.

ALAN PURISIMA, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF:

Based on the report as we have mentioned before, there were violations of the police operational procedures so this is what the PNP is focusing on now.

The PNP will turn over all the physical evidence from the scene to the NBI on Tuesday, January 15, when the agency plans to start its investigation.

Both the PNP and the NBI say it’s premature to assume that the killing is an ambush and not a shootout…
Especially with a key missing testimony from the shooting’s alleged leader.

The facts are now in the hands of the NBI, but there are more questions left unanswered. What do the facts mean? And more importantly, why does Marantan refuse to talk?  

Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com