Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A Manila court granted the temporary freedom for the main suspect in the 2013 Atimonan rubout.
Judge Liwliwa Hidalgo-Bucu of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 ordered the release of Superintendent Hansel Marantan and 10 other suspects after they paid the P300,000 bail.
Hidalgo-Bucu said the prosecution failed to present enough evidence pinning the suspects to the crime.
She added the law allows bail if evidence is weak, and asserted their release will not affect the final ruling on the case.
On Wednesday, the court allowed Marantan and 11 others to post bail for their multiple murder charges.
They are facing charges filed by the Justice department for allegedly gunning down 13 victims to death at a checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon on January 6, 2013.
Marantan, the mission commander, claimed it was a legitimate police operation against alleged gambling lord Vic Siman and his group.
