NBI submits report on Atimonan shootout this week

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is having difficulty determining the motive behind the killing of the 13 men in the controversial Atimonan shootout, which has caused a slight delay in the completion of its report.

Justice Sec. Leila de Lima admitted this, as she hinted that a comprehensive report would be submitted to President Aquino by Wednesday at the earliest.

“What delays such completion is the analysis of the possible motive behind the deadly operations,” De Lima said in a text message to The STAR yesterday.

This issue, she pointed out, would determine the level of liability of the government in the bloodbath.

The Palace had denied the claims of the joint police-military contingent, led by Superintendent Hansel Marantan, that the Atimonan operation had the approval of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

De Lima also confirmed that the bureau has yet to finalize technical aspects of the findings. She said results of the ballistic tests on the firearms used in the supposed encounter have yet to be completed as of yesterday.

But she stressed she has not given the NBI a specific deadline, knowing “they are working double time in completing the report.”

Still, she expects the bureau to complete and submit the report to her tomorrow.

The Justice chief earlier hinted that charges would be recommended against some of those involved in the incident.

“The different angles – whether they are completed or not – we will know in the report. We will also know who will be charged and the NBI will be ready to file the case,” she said.

She had also offered security forces the option to turn state witness and be spared of charges.

Three civilian witnesses have claimed the 13 men, led by alleged jueteng kingpin Vic Siman, were killed “in cold blood.”

Their testimony led De Lima to dismiss Marantan’s claims that the incident was a shootout.

However, the security forces also presented a civilian witness, Rolando Vico Jr., who supported their claim that what transpired at the Atimonan checkpoint was a shootout, initiated by Siman’s group.

Claiming there were threats to his life, Vico has sought the help of the anti-crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

De Lima had ordered the NBI to check on his background.