I’M referring to Colonel Hansel Marantan, a bemedalled but controversial member of Philippine National Police Academy ‘Kabalikat’ Class of 1998 whose designation as acting Davao City Police Office chief raised many eyebrows particularly among supporters of the Dutertes.

As I have said before, Marantan may be a villain in the eyes of some but a hero to so many especially to the families of victims of heinous crimes whom he had helped get justice.

For one, the guy who was plucked out from the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon is entering a new territory which is totally stranger to him. He doesn’t’ speak the native tongue and is not familiar with officers and men of the Southern Mindanao police force except, of course his former superior at the National Capital Region Police Office, now Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier Gen. Nick Torre.

However, the guy who has spoken a number of times on the role of the PNP in embracing reforms to ensure peace, security, stability and the progress that comes with it is known to be serious when it comes to fighting criminality.

He has spoken so many times about the need for the government to focus its attention on the proliferation of illegal drugs and loose firearms, the presence of private armed groups and of course, cybercrime which I believe is also no stranger to Dabaweños.

Twenty-eight years after entering the police force and training with the best of the best, Marantan continues to fight criminality and lawlessness. Yes, he may have become so controversial that the mere mention of his name brings back memories of those controversial shooting incidents in Ortigas, Parañaque City and Atimonan, Quezon.

However, those who only remember the name Hansel Marantan because of the countless negative media reports on him should now know that the guy is also a loving husband, a father, a brother an uncle and a son to a teacher and a farmer from Cagayan.

The public should now know that the guy has 52 metal screws, 4 bone plates, 1 knee replacement, an impaired left ear and 3 spine operations, all as a result of wounds he suffered while fighting armed criminals

“There’s too much pain in the service categorically or equivocally. Sometimes it was brought about by unpopular decisions that we made. To name a few: Ortigas shootout, Bersamin case, Degamo case, Parañaque shootout, Candelaria shootout, Black-Shark Organized Crime Group, Kuratong OCG, AtimonanShootout– can’t remember na one by one pero what I am saying is that these demands decisions that will make or break you and your career,” he once said when he spoke before the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

“ You will eat death threats three times a day, ma compromise mo ang security ng family mo, your children will be bullied in their schools, they will be displaced for sure, magtatago kayo at darating ang oras na talagang ipupusta mo rin kung anung meron ka.” he said.

Take those words from a cop named Hansel. A cop who was imprisoned for more than five years before luck smiled on him and he got a favorable court ruling and the chance to return to the police force. A cop who is now also on a mission to get Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and tell the latter that he didn’t run from the law and opted to defend himself in court knowing that justice is really fair.

On Friday, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos quipped that the world is really getting smaller everyday for the fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ pastor and his co-accused in human trafficking and child abuse cases as he announced the capture of one of the proclaimed Son of God’s wanted followers.

The arrest of Paulene Canada in a house located just around two kilometers away from the PRO11 regional headquarters in Davao City came just days after Sec. Abalos said that a total of P15 million in reward money was offered by concerned citizens for any information that would lead to the arrest of Quiboloy and company.

“Ang kaso po ng mga ito ay child abuse and exploitation and then trafficking at me mga tao na napu-frustrate na sa kanila. Kaya ang appeal ko sa Pastor Quiboloy, kung wala kayong kasalanan, me korte po tayo. Surrender and face the charges like every ordinary people do,” Sec. Abalos said

“Sa nangyayari po ngayon, parang tinatapakan nila ang sistema ng pamahalaan. Magse-serve ka ng warrant of arrest ikaw pa ang me kasalanan. Ang batas ay batas, ang me kasalanan ang mananagot at yan ang gagawin namin Pastor,” the DILG head added.

Gen. Marbil also made it clear that Quiboloy is a ‘fugitive of the law’ who has been hiding over the past two months, thus the need for him to either surrender or be arrested. The top cop also described as but normal the series of reshuffles at the Davao City Police Office saying it has and also has been happening in other areas in the country like in Calabarzon or Central Luzon regions which all went unnoticed by the public.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon