High-risk inmates to be moved from Kidapawan to Bicutan

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said plans are underway to transfer high-risk inmates from the Kidapawan district jail in Kidapawan City to the Bicutan district jail in Taguig City.

Robredo said there are not enough security measures and manpower to respond to the needs of high-risk inmates in Kidapawan City.

At least three persons were killed, including a Red Cross volunteer, while 16 others were injured, when at least 50 armed men stormed the Kidapawan jail in a bid to rescue a Muslim bandit leader identified as Datucan Samad, alias Lastikman, last February.

Robredo said the Department of Justice has requested the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the hearing of cases involving high-risk inmates in the regional trial courts of Cotabato to other venues.

Robredo said the proposal to relocate the high-risk inmates was made by the Kidapawan City peace and order council through a resolution addressed to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.