Massacre suspect loses bid to stay in Crame

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has rejected a plea by Maguindanao massacre suspect Takan Dilon to remain in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center at Camp Crame. 

In an eight-page resolution released yesterday, the CA’s Special 16th Division dismissed Dilon’s petition seeking to stop his transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to join the other accused in detention.

The CA instead affirmed the transfer order issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 22 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes last year.

Dilon, who was earlier eyed as a state witness by Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors, opposed the transfer order, citing possible threats to his life if he joins the other accused.

The DOJ’s witness protection program supported Dilon’s plea to stay in the custodial center. 

The judge rejected the appeal as she also dismissed the possibility of the accused being used as a state witness in the multiple murder case.

The CA agreed with the trial court and rejected Dilon’s allegation that the judge committed grave abuse of discretion.

The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr., held that Dilon’s being considered by the DOJ as a possible state witness was not a compelling reason to allow his continued detention at the custodial center.

The CA also said that at the time his co-accused’s lawyers moved for his transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa, Dilon had yet to give any testimony against them.

Associate Justices Socorro Inting and Eduardo Peralta Jr. concurred with this ruling.

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Meanwhile, the prosecution panel filed its formal offer of evidence last week against the bail petition of two police officers charged in the multiple murder case.

In a 28-page formal offer of evidence released yesterday, prosecutors asked Solis-Reyes to admit hundreds of pieces of evidence in opposition to the bail petition of Superintendent Bahnarin Kamaong and Police Officer 1 Sandy Sabang.

Kamaong and Sabang were among the 197 suspects charged with 58 counts of murder in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Among those offered was the sworn affidavit of suspect-turned-state witness Sukarno Badal, who testified that Kamaong was in a July 2009 meeting where primary accused Andal Ampatuan Sr. allegedly revealed the plan to kill then Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who successfully challenged one of the Ampatuans for Maguindanao’s gubernatorial post. – With Janvic Mateo