Trial of 2013 Atimonan ‘rubout’ case can now proceed – SC

MANILA, Philippines – The multiple murder case filed against police superintendent Hansel Marantan, who was the alleged mastermind of the Atimonan “rubout” incident that killed 13 men in January 2013, can now proceed without legal obstacles.

This is after the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed Marantan’s petition that said the justice department should have inhibited from conducting a preliminary investigation into the case.

In his petition, Marantan also sought to transfer the case to the Office of the Ombudsman from the Department of Justice. But as the case had already been filed before the courts, the SC said the petition was now moot and academic.

The Atimonan incident left 13 suspected robbery gang members dead and had involved 23 officials of the Philippine National Police and 25 members of the military.

In a 24 page decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC said “Here, an information against petitioner has already been filed before the Regional Trial Court. Consequently, whether the case should be dismissed, or whether petitioner should be acquitted or convicted, is for the trial court to determine.”

Leonen said resolving whether or not the DOJ should have inhibited from a preliminary investigation and instead forwarded case records to the Ombudsman “would be of no practical use and value.”

Marantan supposedly led the team of policemen and soldiers who fired at a convoy of gambling lord Vic Siman and his colleagues.

An investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation showed the incident was prompted by a war on jueteng turfs. (READ: Who stood to benefit from Atimonan killings?)

Other cops who faced murder charges related to the incident were:

• Superintendent Ramon Balauag
• Chief Inspecotr Grant Gollod
• Senior Inspector John Paolo Carracedo
• 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 also known as “Rodel Tolentino”

SC Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes Jr, Ramon Paul Hernando, and Rosemari Carandang concurred with the ruling. – Rappler.com