Atimonan cops to be transferred to Quezon

MANILA, Philippines -The 13 policemen facing arrest for involvement in an alleged rubout in Atimonan, Quezon in January allegedly over a turf war on illegal gambling activities will be transferred to Gumaca, Quezon tomorrow.

“The PNP (Philippine National Police) Criminal Investigation Detection Group has already secured the warrant and is coordinating with the Headquarters Support Service (HSS) to serve the warrant to the group,” PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor  said.

Warrants of arrest for the 13 issued on Friday by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Chona Pulgar-Navar.

No bail was allowed for the 13, identified as Police Superintendent Hansel Marantan, Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Chief Inspector Grant Gollod, Senior Inspectors John Paolo Carracedo and Timoteo Orig, Senior Police Officer 3 Joselito de Guzman, Senior Police Officers 1 Arturo Sarmiento and Carlo Cataquiz, Police Officer 3 Eduardo Oronan, Police Officers 2 Nelson Indal and Bhazar Jailani, and Police Officers 1 Wryan Sardea and Rodel Talento.

Baluag, Indal, and Jailani have reportedly gone absent without official leave (AWOL).

“It’s now up to the court to decide where they will be detained. But as directed, we are going to present them before the court,” Mayor said. He also said no PNP lawyers would be  provided to Marantan and his group since the cases against them were not service related.

The travel records of the 13 are being reviewed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to determine if they are still in the country.

BI officer-in-charge Siegfred Mison yesterday said they would immediately inform the PNP of the results of their travel check. – Evelyn Macairan, Jaime Laude