Marantan, 10 other cops in Atimonan ‘rubout’ freed

The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed yesterday that Superintendent Hansel Marantan and the 10 police officers he led in the supposed rubout in Atimonan, Quezon of 13 people believed involved in illegal gambling in 2013 are now free.

It will be recalled that Marantan’s team of 13 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 Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 34 issued the release order of Supt. Marantan and the 10 other police officers who have been detained after each of them posted a bail of 1300,000 the other day.

Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesman, confirmed Marantan, along with Chief Inspector Grant Gollod, Senior Inspectors John Paolo Carracedo and Timoteo Orig, SPO3 Joselito de Guzman, SPO1 Carlos Cataquiz, SPO1 Arturo Sarmiento, PO3 Eduardo Oronan, PO2 Nelson Indal, PO1 Wryan Sardea, and PO1 Rodel Talento, have been released.

Carlos said the policemen, all of whom were detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, were freed at 9 p.m. Thursday.

“Originally, there were 13 accused, but Supt. Ramon Balauag was discharged as state witness while PO2 Al Bhazar Jailani remained at large from day one,” Carlos said.