A new docudrama is set to spark national conversations about justice, loyalty, and life behind the uniform.
‘Sa Likod ng Tsapa: The Story of Colonel Hansel Marantan’, directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker Editha Z. Caduaya, will hit cinemas nationwide beginning August 13, 2025. Produced by POP Moviehouse and Newsline Philippines and distributed by Solar Pictures, the film offers a gripping, unfiltered look into the life of one of the country’s most controversial police officers.
The film traces six high-profile police operations led by Col. Hansel Marantan—including the 2013 Atimonan shootout, from which he was recently acquitted. It also revisits missions targeting major criminal syndicates such as Kuratong Baleleng and other operations sanctioned by the Office of the President.
Speaking during the film’s press conference on July 22, Marantan described the process of revisiting his past as emotionally challenging. “There were times we had to stop the interview because it became too emotional. There are irreparable comments—it cannot be reconstructed,” he shared. Despite this, he emphasized that the story was not told for sympathy. “I told it for truth and justice.”
Caduaya, who spent more than 16 hours interviewing Marantan, echoed the emotional toll of the process. “It took us six hours just to complete 15 minutes of footage. There were so many breaks—we had to stop because he was shaking or tearing up. It was painful to witness, but I had to push through to tell this story.”
The film blends real interviews, archival footage, and dramatized reenactments. Lt. Col. Stefanio Adrenicus Rabino portrays the younger Marantan and shared how the film sheds light on the invisible struggles of police officers. “There’s so much the public never sees on national TV—this shows the struggle,” Rabino said.
Also present at the media launch was Col. Mario Mayames, a close confidant of Marantan and a witness to many of the operations featured in the film.
In a video message, PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III expressed his support for the documentary, describing it as “gripping and powerful.” He said the film reflects “the discipline, excellence, and relentless commitment of our police officers to safeguard lives and uphold peace and order.”
Director Caduaya said the documentary exposed to her a kind of institutional injustice that rarely makes it to mainstream media. “When police officers get in trouble, no one claims them. But when operations succeed, everyone claims credit. That’s what I saw in this story, and that’s what pushed me to bring it to life,” she said.
Marantan, who now serves as Acting Director of the Police Peace Development Center, said watching the final cut gave him a sense of peace. “There is no more bitterness in my heart. I have forgiven all of them—even Senator De Lima. It’s better to forgive. That’s what I’m trying to do now.”
‘Sa Likod ng Tsapa’ is more than a film—it is a personal and political reflection on the complexities of policing, the burden of public service, and the power of owning one’s truth. The film was rated “G” by the MTRCB and is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide on August 13. (with reports from Loyd Pino)
