Ampatuan Jr. transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa under tight guard

MANILA, Philippines - Police tightened security yesterday in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig following the transfer of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to a five-storey jail facility inside the 48-hectare compound of the National Capital Region Office.

Upon arrival at Camp Bagong Diwa at 11:10 a.m. yesterday, Ampatuan changed into a yellow prison t-shirt and was locked up in a cell on the fourth floor.

Metro Manila police commander Director Roberto Rosales said all visitors would now be subjected to rigid frisking and other types of inspection.

“There will be roving patrols inside the camp, especially near the Metro Manila District Jail facilities.”

Rosales said a 12-foot fence has been erected around Camp Bagong Diwa to make it harder for prisoners to escape.

Police will also guard the perimeter of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology building inside the camp, he added.

Of the 661 detainees in the nearby Metro Manila District Jail, 131 are Abu Sayyaf terrorists and members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement; three suspects in the General Santos City bombing; three suspects in the Batasan bombing; 14 high-risk prisoners from Cotabato City; 10 suspected members of the Alex Boncayao Brigade and four New People’s Army members.

The 170 high-risk prisoners are housed in security intensive care areas, while the main detention facility contains 340 detainees.

Closed-circuit TV cameras monitor the movements of the prisoners in the facility.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 has ordered transfer of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Akmad Ampatuan Sr., Sajid Ampatuan, and Anwar Ampatuan to the detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Fifty-two other suspects in the Maguindanao massacre will also be moved from Camp Crame to the five- storey detention center inside the National Capital Region Police compound.

Solis-Reyes said 14 suspects in the massacre will be arraigned in the courtroom constructed inside Camp Bagong Diwa on April 21.

The arraignment of 41 others has been suspended pending the resolution of their separate motions, she added.

The following will be arraigned on April 21:

Chief Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon; Police Officer 3 Abiduin Abdulgani; Police Officers 2 Saudiar Alo Ulah, Saudi Pasutan, Hamad Nana, and Hernanie Saulong Decipulo Jr.; Police Officers 1 Pia Kamidon, Rainer Ebus, Esmael Manuel Guialal, Michael Juanitas Madsig, Esprielito Giano Lejarso and Herich Manisi Amaba; and civilians Takpan Dilon and Esmael Canapia.

The arraignment of the following were deferred: Andal Ampatuan Sr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Akmad Ampatuan Sr., Sajid Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Superintendents Abusama Mundas Maguid and Abdulwahid Pedtucasan, and Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay.

They want protection

Families of victims of the Maguindanao massacre and witnesses to the murders have asked the government for protection.

Members of the families of 22 victims and their legal counsel Nena Santos met with acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to discuss their protection.

Santos said the most important thing is that the Department of Justice give importance to cases filed in Maguindanao against the Ampatuans.

“We raised the issue of the protection of the witnesses in this case and the commitment of Secretary Agra to pursue the case of the massacre,” she said.

“These are the two main issues we raised during the meeting with Secretary Agra, as well as the other concerns of the families.”

Santos said the Ampatuans have asked witnesses who have already testified in court against Andal Jr. to recant their testimonies. – Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta, Rhodina Villanueva, Reinir Padua