By Rey Panaligan
The Supreme Court (SC) paved the way for the court trial of police Supt. Hansel Marantan and his group for their alleged involvement in the January 6, 2013 so-called rubout in Atimonan, Quezon where 13 persons died.
Supreme Court (SC) (MANILA BULLETIN)
In a decision written by Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, the SC dismissed Marantan’s petition which challenged the authority of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the complaint filed against him and his group.
Aside Marantan, also facing multiple murder charges in connection with the encounter, were Chief Insp. Grant Gollod, Senior Insp. 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 and PO1 Rodel Talento aka Rodel Tolentino.
Marantan would have wanted the investigation of the complaint undertaken by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The SC said that Marantan’ petition was already moot and academic since the case for multiple murder has been filed before the trial court.
“Here, an information against petitioner has already been filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC). Consequently, whether the case should be dismissed, or whether petitioner should be acquitted or convicted, is for the trial court to determine,” the SC said.
“Resolving whether public respondent DOJ should have inhibited from conducting the preliminary investigation and forwarded the case records to the Office of the Ombudsman would be of no practical use and value here,” it added.
The DOJ filed multiple murder cases against Marantan and his group. The Manila RTC granted their petition for bail in 2017. The trial court was affirmed by the CA on the bail issue.
Upon posting of bail, Marantan and his group were released from detention.
Published reports stated that Marantan’s team of police officers were charged with multiple murder after shooting at a convoy of vehicles that passed through Atimonan on Jan. 6, 2013, killing 13 people including suspected jueteng lord, Victorino “Vic Siman” Atienza, Jr.
The same reports stated that originally, there were 13 persons named as accused in the multiple murder case. But Supt. Ramon Balauag was discharged as state witness, while PO2 Al Bhazar Jailani has remained at large since then.