Palace backs De Lima on 'no shootout' claim
Checkpoint cops face raps
MANILA, Philippines - Charges await the team of soldiers and policemen led by Superintendent Hansel Marantan for the killing of 13 men in Atimonan, Quezon last Jan. 6, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.
And Malacañang is supporting her in her actions.
“By claiming that it was a shootout, the operatives/soldiers present during the incident admit that they killed the victims. The burden of proof is shifted on them to show that unlawful aggression came from (Victor) Siman et al. And that’s the function of their defense, either in the conduct of preliminary investigation and/or trial,” De Lima told reporters in a text message.