Cop linked to rubout case in Quezon 11 years ago named Davao City’s police chief

A SENIOR police officer linked to a rubout case in Atimonan, Quezon 11 years ago has been designated as the chief of police of Davao City.

PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said Col. Hansel Marantan, previously assigned with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, was installed as Davao City’s top cop last Wednesday.

Marantan is the third officer to take over as Davao City police, succeeding Col. Lito Patay of the Davao Region police who had assumed the post in a concurrent and acting capacity. The other was Col. Rolindo Suguilon, who was removed as acting Davao City police chief after the recent relief of 19 station commanders of the city.

Patay was presiding over a command conference when he received a call that his designation had been terminated, with Col. Sherwin Butil taking over the officer-in-charge.

Later last Wednesday, Marantan was designated as the city’s police chief.

Fajardo said the designations of Marantan’s predecessors were “temporary.”

He said the leadership of the Davao region police deemed it necessary to assign a Davao City police chief in a “permanent capacity.”

Fajardo said Davao region police director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III is confident that Marantan “will deliver what is expected of him.”

Marantan was among the police officials involved in a police operation in Atimonan, Quezon in April 2013 that led to the death of 13 alleged criminals.

An NBI investigation established the 13 were victims of a rubout and recommended the filing of murder charges against 21 policemen, including Marantan.

Marantan was dismissed from the police service in 2014 but was reinstated three years later when the National Police Commission approved his appeal.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte said the relief of Davao City police officials, including the city’s police chief, “will not help in sustaining the city’s peace and security situation.”

Duterte said the city has earned a “longstanding reputation for its commitment to peace and order and security for our people.” He said this is the product of the “combination of political will, committed and dedicated law enforcers and, most of all, citizens’ cooperation.”

He said the relief of these