DOJ satisfied with BJMP facilities for massacre suspects

After conducting an inspection a day ago, the Department of Justice on Monday said it is satisfied with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s trial and detention facilities for the suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre. Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said they would report to the Quezon City court that the facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City is ready to be used as a courtroom and detention center. "Yesterday we conducted an ocular inspection sa Bicutan. Ready ang courtroom at detention center sa Camp Bagong Diwa. Doon iko-conduct ang trial, pati ang mga nahuli doon ilalagay sa Bicutan (On Sunday we conducted an ocular inspection at Bicutan and we found the courtroom and detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa. The trial will be conducted there, and the suspects in the massacre will likely be transferred there)," Agra said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said it will now be up to the Quezon City court to decide when to resume hearings on the case, where at least 57 people – 32 of them journalists – were killed. Agra said it is likely that all suspects charged for rebellion and murder in the massacre will be brought to the BJMP facility in Bicutan. "Magre-report kami sa korte at sasabihing ready ang facilities sa Camp Bagong Diwa. Depende sa ating husgado [kung] kailan nila dadalhin doon. Ready ang courtroom at ready ang detention (We will report to the court that the courtroom and detention facilities are ready)," he said. PNP, NBI to effect arrest Meanwhile, Agra said the DOJ will give the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police leeway to plan how to arrest at least 188 suspects in the massacre. He said that while the court issued arrest warrants against 189 suspects, one was found to be a "double." "Lahat yan ay hinahanap ng PNP at NBI operatives (All those suspects are now subjects of a manhunt by PNP and NBI operatives)," he said. Agra also said it is up to the NBI and PNP to distribute leaflets or posters bearing the suspects’ photos. Seven of the suspects are already detained: Former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Akmad Ampatuan, Sajid Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Takpan Dilon and Esmael Canapia. Ampatuan Sr. is detained in Camp Panacan Hospital in Davao City; Zaldy, Akmad, Sajid, and Anwar are in Camp Lira in General Santos City; and Dilon and Canapia are detained in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Meanwhile, Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., prime suspect in last year's massacre, has been detained in a facility inside the NBI main headquarters in Manila. — RSJ, GMANews.TV