Cops in Atimonan ‘rubout’ released on bail

MANILA, Philippines - The police officers accused in the alleged rubout of 13 people in Atimonan, Quezon in 2013 were released Thursday after posting bail.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said Supt. Hansel Marantan and 10 other accused in the Atimonan killing left the PNP custodial center late Thursday.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 issued the release orders for the accused who posted bail of P300,000 each. 

Aside from Marantan, the other officers released are Chief Insp. Grant Gollod, Senior Insp. John Paolo Carracedo, Senior Insp. Timoteo Orig, SPO3 Joselito de Guzman, SPO1 Carlo Cataquiz, SPO1 Arturo Sarmiento, PO3 Eduardo Oronan, PO2 Nelson Indal, PO1 Wryan Sardea and PO1 Rodel Talento.

Marantan and the others were seen in civilian clothes based on a photograph from UNTV News as they left the detention facility.

They are facing multiple murder charges after they killed 13 people at a security checkpoint on Jan. 6, 2013 in Atimonan.

Marantan and the other accused maintaineda it was a shootout.

They said the 13, in a two-vehicle convoy, refused to stop at a checkpoint set up on Maharlika Highway and opened fire first, prompting the security team to return fire.

Among those killed were environmentalist Tirso Lontok Jr., Air Force 1Lt. Jim Beam Justiniani, Police Superintendent Alfredo Consemino and Vic Siman, the alleged jueteng lord who was the supposed target of the operation.

The court decided to grant the bail for the accused after the prosecution reportedly failed to establish that the evidence against them is strong enough to deny them bail.

The case was originally filed at the Gumaca, Quezon Regional Trial Court but was eventually transferred to the Manila RTC upon request of the Department of Justice.