Cop in Atimonan rubout promoted

MANILA, Philippines — A police official implicated in the 2013 killing of 13 men in an alleged rubout in Atinoman, Quezon was promoted last week.

Hansel Marantan, who heads the intelligence division of the National Capital Region Police Office, was among the 16 police officials promoted to the rank of colonel.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas administered the oath-taking and donning of ranks ceremony for the police officers.

The PNP said Marantan was responsible for the arrest of suspected New People’s Army rebel leader Romeo Aytona Jr. in Quezon City last December.

National Police Commission vice chairman Vitaliano Aguirre II explained that under the law, police officers with pending cases are qualified for promotion if their cases are not resolved in two years.

“They have the right to be promoted under the law,” Aguirre told reporters.

Under Republic Act 9708, which amended RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act, police officers with pending cases that remain unresolved after two years from the determination of probable cause are qualified for promotion.

“In the event the police officer is found guilty of the crime by final judgment, the promotion will be recalled without prejudice to the imposition of penalties under applicable rules,” the law read.

Marantan and 12 other police officials involved in the rubout were dismissed from the service in 2014 by then PNP chief Alan Purisima after they were found guilty of serious irregularity in the performance of duty.

He was reinstated in the PNP in 2017 following an appeal from the Napolcom appellate board.