DoJ completes Atimonan murder probe

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 4): DoJ completes Atimonan murder probe

Justice officials have completed its investigation into the multiple murder complaint against 21 police officers and 14 members of the military in connection with the Atimonan killing.

Senior State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva confirmed they had already submitted for resolution the case after all the parties had filed their counter-affidavits.

Chief Supt. James Melad, Supt. Hansel Marantan and 20 other police officers and 14 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines had been slapped with a complaint for multiple murder for the death of businessman Vic Siman and 12 others in Atimonan, Quezon last Jan. 6.

During Monday’s preliminary investigation, the DoJ was supposed to conduct a clarificatory hearing as requested by the military.

The military, in their joint counter-affidavit, revealed that the police tampered with the evidence by firing the firearms of the victims and shooting one of the victims despite their call to take the victim to the hospital. The clarificatory hearing was cancelled after Marantan failed to appear before the DoJ.

The police and military personnel were charged after the NBI investigation showed that there was no shootout but the 13 victims were summarily executed.

Marantan has formally denied the multiple murder charges filed against him.

In his 22-page counter affidavit, Marantan echoed his earlier insistence that deaths occurred in a “legitimate operational plan formulated to neutralize syndicated and organized groups in the region.” His fellow respondent, former Region IV-A police director Chief Supt. James Andres Melad made the same claim.

“I merely acted in the fulfillment of my duty as a police officer, or in the lawful exercise of a right or office… The death of the 13 occupants was never planned. It was a chanced occurrence,” he said.

Citing lack of ample evidence, he also belied allegation that there was conspiracy among the uniformed men to kill Siman and his group stemming from a supposed turf war on jueteng operations in Southern Tagalog.

“I specifically and vehemently deny the motive imputed to me in the NBI Executive Report. The conclusions in the report are actually conjectures or speculations without any iota of evidence or proof, testimonial or documentary, adduced to support the same,” Marantan stressed.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/14945-doj-completes-atimonan-murder-probe