NBI creates own security task force to secure Ampatuan

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) created on Monday Task Force Ampatuan to secure Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. for Tuesday’s arraignment, which will be held in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Because Ampatuan, his lawyers and their escorts will have to travel all the way to Quezon City from the NBI headquarters in Manila, the NBI said it would implement more heightened security than that used during the preliminary investigations at the Department of Justice (DoJ)

NBI Director Nestor M. Mantaring said Task Force Ampatuan will be headed by Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of the NBI Field Operations Division (FOD). The task force will provide the security blanket for Tuesday’s arraignment.

The group is composed of composite teams from the Office of the Intelligence Services, Office of the Technical Services, and National Capital Region (NCR).

Deputy Director for Intelligence Services Ruel Lasala said at least 75 bureau operatives will escort Ampatuan Jr. to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame.

“Mas matindi ito. We will implement a more heightened security because of the long travel. We will make 100 percent sure that we will take Andal to Camp Crame safe and we will return him to his detention cell here at the bureau also safe,” said Lasala.

The NBI official said lawmen have not received any intelligence report of any ambush plan on the convoy that would take Ampatuan Jr. to Camp Crame and vice versa, but said they would not take chances.

“We are prepared for all possible scenarios and we have prepared alternative plans for that,” said Lasala.

Asked to comment on reports that Ampatuan Jr. has received death threats, Lasala said the information is still raw. “It is still raw and we are still validating the information. But just the same, the NBI is not taking chances, and we will make sure that Andal will be secured, and not only him but as well as those attending the arraignment and even the operatives securing him,” he said.

A bullet-proof vehicle will take Ampatuan Jr. to Camp Crame and he will wear a bullet-proof vest. “He will be handcuffed while he is transported to the place, and vice versa. But when he is already in the courtroom, the judge may ask the NBI to remove the handcuffs. Even in the United States and other countries, the accused (murder case) is being handcuffed. This is the SOP (standard operating procedure),” said Lasala. (Jeamma E. Sabate)

Bello: There should be no special treatment
The Philippine National Police (PNP) should look into allegations that the detained members of the Ampatuan clan were living like kings while in government custody and ensure equal treatment of all prisoners, a Palace official said Monday.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said members of the Ampatuan clan, detained in connection with the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao, should not be given any luxury and instead get the same treatment as other detained suspects.

“The PNP should know that all detainees should be treated equally, without any special treatment. They should also know if there are such allegations, they should not wait for any orders from the President,” Bello said in a phone interview.

“They should look into the allegations and after that they should do appropriate action assuming there is truth to the allegations,” he added.

Bello, however, said he has doubts if the Ampatuan leaders were given special treatment at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) compound in Camp Fermin Lira.

“Knowing the profile of the detainees, baka naman hindi totoo yan,” he added.

Reports said the Ampatuans were permitted to use mobile phones, enjoy catered meals, and wander outside their detention cells. Journalists were prohibited from going into the CIDG compound where the suspects in the massacre were held in custody.

On proposals to transfer other detained kin of the Ampatuans from a General Santos City jail to Camp Crame, Bello said the Palace would let the police leadership decide on the matter.

“They should consider the security of the detainees and at the same time look into the possibility of allegations of special treatment,” he said.

President Arroyo has tried to distance herself from the Ampatuan political clan after some of its members were implicated to the death of 57 people, including journalists.

Palace officials said the government is determined to bring to justice to those behind the gruesome murders even though they have close connections with the President.

But critics continue to doubt the President’s resolve to make the Ampatuans liable for the murders when then Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo claimed the Chief Executive was keeping her friendship with the beleaguered family from Mindanao.

Since her controversial remarks, Fajardo was removed from the President’s roster of mouthpieces and assigned to her sole job as presidential assistant for Luzon.

Meanwhile, a labor group assailed Monday the reported VIP treatment that jail officials have been giving the Ampatuans while in detention at the regional police headquarters in General Santos City.

News reports earlier said that the suspects in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao live like kings “with unrestricted use of mobile phones, catered meals, and unlimited access by their lawyers and visitors’’ at their cell at Camp Fermin G. Lira Jr.

“(That’s) totally unacceptable!’’ said TUCP secretary-general former senator Ernesto Herrera said in a statement.

“If the reported VIP accommodations are true, then heads should roll there. No one should get to enjoy any exceptional treatment while in jail. Regardless of status, everyone should get the same rigid treatment,” he said.

Herrera noted that an ordinary detainee has restricted access to outgoing and incoming calls and cannot just freely order any meals.

“It would appear that they (ampatuans) are unfairly and irregularly enjoying unusual conveniences,” he said.

Four leaders of the Ampatuan clan, principal suspects in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, are being held at the police camp.

They are brothers Zaldy Ampatuan, the suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Sajid Ampatuan, former acting governor of Maguindanao; and Anwar Ampatuan, mayor of Shariff Aguak. The fourth is their uncle, Akmad Ampatuan, the vice-governor of Maguindanao, it was learned. (Genalyn Kabiling and Shianee Mamanglu) –Manila Bulletin