Police accused of pampering massacre suspects

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) drew flak on Monday for allegedly allowing the suspects in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province last Nov. 23 to live like kings while under detention at the police headquarters in General Santos City.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it has received reports that the four detained leaders of the Ampatuan clan have “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 and former senator Ernesto Herrera.

“If the reported VIP accommodations are true, then heads should roll. 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 said 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.

The detainees include 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.
Meanwhile, the PNP declared its highest alert status inside its headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City to ensure security for the arraignment on Tuesday of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal suspect in the massacre.

Ampatuan Jr. will be brought from the National Bureau of Investigation jail in Manila to Camp Crame on Tuesday morning to begin his trial on multiple murder charges.

Senior Superintendent Gordon Descanzo, deputy chief of the PNP’s Headquarters Support Service, said 380 policemen have already been tapped to secure Camp Crame while “enough number” of police officers will be stationed outside to prevent protesters from disturbing the court proceedings.
The media will not be allowed to cover the trial, Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said, citing previous court rulings like that libel case involving the late President Corazon Aquino and the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada.
“We are trying to avoid the arguments raised before that live media coverage could lead to trial by publicity, impartial hearing and violates the Constitutional Rights of every accused for a due process.

Live media coverage will not allowed unless the Supreme Court reverses its previous rulings,” said Marquez.

Even cellular phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets such as recorders will also be prohibited inside the court room, said Marquez.

In a related development, a large band of gunmen separately attacked a mansion and a gasoline station owned by the wealthy Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao on Sunday night, but a police official said they are eyeing ragtag bandits whose motive is looting rather than the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the culprits. – Jay R. Gotera, SG