Philippines to accuse police and soldiers in killings of 13 at checkpoint

Philippine investigators will file a murder case against 35 police officers and soldiers for allegedly executing 13 people at a road checkpoint in a plan by a police colonel to eliminate a rival in an illegal gambling operation, the justice secretary said on Wednesday.

An investigation ordered by President Benigno Aquino III into the killings that occurred January 6 concluded the victims were summarily executed and there was no shoot-out as claimed by the security personnel.

Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Aquino directed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to file a criminal and administrative complaint after reading the report by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“The conclusion is that no shoot-out occurred,” de Lima said. “The victims were summarily executed and all indications point to a rubout.”

She said the NBI will file a criminal complaint with state prosecutors, who will decide whether there is enough evidence against the 21 police and 14 soldiers before filing the case in court.

The investigation found that the killings were a plan by the police colonel who led the security force at the checkpoint, Hansel Marantan, to eliminate his rival in the illegal gambling operation. Local newspapers have reported that Marantan was a protector of an illegal numbers game called “jueteng.”