Marantan, 11 other cops acquitted of multiple murder over 2013 Atimonan shootout

MANILA -- A Manila court acquitted  PCol. Hansel Marantan and 11 other police officers of multiple murder charges over the controversial 2013 Atimonan, Quezon shootout that left 13 people dead.

In a decision promulgated on June 23, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 27 ruled that the officers had acted in fulfillment of duty and faced actual and imminent danger during the operation that targeted alleged jueteng lord Vic Siman.

Judge Teresa Patrimonio-Soriaso said the police and military used reasonable force in the operation, pointing to Marantan’s serious injuries as proof of unlawful aggression from the suspects.

The operation took place on January 6, 2013, along Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon. Authorities claimed the two SUVs carrying Siman and his companions tried to ram through a checkpoint — sparking a gunfight that lasted nearly 20 minutes.

The Philippine National Police defended the encounter as a legitimate operation against a gun-for-hire syndicate. But the National Bureau of Investigation described it as a rubout, saying the victims had no chance to fight back.

Those acquitted alongside Marantan included Ramon Balauag, Grant Gollod, John Paolo Carracedo, Timoteo Orig, Joselito de Guzman, Carlo Cataquiz, Arturo Sarmiento, Eduardo Oronan, Nelson Indal, Wryan Sardea, and Rodel Talento.

Their bail bonds have been canceled and their provisional liberty has been made permanent.

One other officer, Bhazar Jailani, remained at large and his case was archived pending arrest.

In 2014, the PNP dismissed several of the accused, but Marantan and 10 of his co-accused were eventually reinstated after winning their appeals before the National Police Commission.

Marantan had insisted the operation was legitimate.

“I know better than anyone else dito sa Atimonan case. Alam nila yan, it was a legitimate operation. Ako ang commander ng anti-private armed group. Anong gagawin ng anti-private armed group, ang trabaho ko talaga hulihin sila,” he previously told ABS-CBN News.