Police Colonel Hansel M. Marantan has reassumed his post as Regional Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for NCR, the CIDG national office said.
The bemedaled Marantan won praises from senators and local politicians for his handling of cases of violence, the latest of which was the March 4 massacre of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 5 other people.
Marantan was reinstated on orders of CIDG national chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. after the colonel testified at the April 19 Senate committee hearing in the presence of senators Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, and JV Ejercito.
At the committee hearing, the senators gave Marantan a pat on the back for having successfully enforced 13 search warrants on the home and land property of fugitive Rep. Arnulfo Teves.
The warrants led to the arrest of six suspects and the filing of murder cases against them, including Teves, the suspected mastermind of the Degamo killing.
Dela Rosa, former national police chief, also praised Marantan for being brave enough to expose the true situation in Negros Oriental, and for defusing the tension in the province.
Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo who also attended the hearing, made a glowing endorsement of Marantan.
“We don’t want many men on the ground but only those who are passionate about their job. Si Colonel Marantan, hindi natatakot gawin ang kanyang trabaho. Sana ma-assign siya sa Negros.”
For his part, Tolentino sought to clarify Marantan’s status at the CIDG.
Marantan said alleged irregularities involving his men made him submit a courtesy resignation as he invoked “command responsibility.”
But no case was ever filed, according to Marantan, who was awarded with the PNP Medal of Valor by Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla.
Ejercito also asked about the charges that linked Marantan and his men to an alleged “hulidap” or robbery and extortion on Chinese nationals during a Paranaque raid.
“There was an allegation, categorical and conclusive statements, made by the DCA himself (P/Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia.We thought there were pieces of evidence to back up the allegations,” Marantan said.
”It is very basic (rule) in investigation that before you can make accusations, there should be a complaint/affidavit from the victims. But there was no such complaint affidavit from the supposed complainants or victims,” Marantan said. Instead, the13 Chinese nationals in an affidavit said
they were not complaining and that there were no irregularities allegedly committed by Marantan and his team.
The DCA “is biased against my men,” Marantan said. “We can stay here even for as long as one year but nothing will come out of it because there is no case at all,” Marantan added.
Marantan led a combined police-military team that enforced the search warrants in Negros because no local policeman was willing to cooperate and do it.
Marantan’s team was backed up by the AFP under generals Sison and Pena. “Without them, it (operation) wouldn’t be a success,” Marantan said.
“There’s too much tension in the area. You can’t even mention the name of Teves,” Marantan said. “Tanungin mo kung sino ang congressman, sinong governor, walang sasagot sa iyo.” (Ask who is the congressman, who’s the governor? You won’t get an answer).
“I’m also scared but I have to brace myself before I go there,” Marantan said, adding that he went to Negros Oriental five times to apply for a search warrant.
“Biro niyo, kami pa ang pumunta sa Negros to implement the SW (search warrant) when you (local police) can do it on your own. Now you’re telling us you aren’t afraid of anyone? There’s some level of hypocrisy here,” Marantan said.
In reaction, a visibly incensed dela Rosa lambasted the Negros police for ignoring and refusing help to their comrades from the national headquarters. “Akala ko ba national police tayo, bakit ganun? Pangit yung ganun.” I thought we are the national police, why is that? That’s
a bad attitude).
Out of disgust, dela Rosa said he wanted to go back to being PNP chief once more and hurled a challenge: “Tignan natin kung sino ang magaling; sino ang mga siga; gusto kong i- challenge lahat!” (Let’s see who’s the bright one; who’s the goon. I Challenge them all.)