5 more Ampatuans arrive at Taguig jail facility

There was no reunion party for the Ampatuan family as more members of the powerful clan linked to the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre were brought to the Metro Manila District Jail in Taguig City.

Metro Manila police chief Director Roberto Rosales said Saturday that at least five members of the Ampatuan clan arrived in Metro Manila Friday and were quickly whisked to the Taguig facility. “Pag turnover sa baba pinrocess sila, sila iaakyat ... Wala namang dapat ipagbunyi, ito pagdadalamhati ng lahat (Once they were turned over to the jail, they were processed and brought to their cells. There was no reason for them to have a family reunion party. The Nov. 23 massacre is a cause not for celebration but for mourning)," Rosales said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said security arrangements had been made for at least 50 more suspects to be brought to the jail. Most of them are policemen linked to the massacre. Before Friday’s “reunion," Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was the first suspect in the massacre to be transferred to the Metro Manila District Jail. Rosales indicated the Ampatuans would be detained in an area separate from the other inmates there. Other inmates include members of the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the building is sufficient to hold the Ampatuan clan members linked to the massacre. “Maayos naman ngayon. Kagabi meron na namang karagdagang lima sa pamilya dumating galing Mindanao, sinalubong ng security escorts sa Villamor Air Base. Sila dinala sa piitan ng Metro Manila District Jail," he said. (Everything is in order. Last night, five members of the clan arrived in Metro Manila from Mindanao. Security escorts brought them to the jail) A report on MindaNews said the five included Ampatuan patriarch Andal Sr.; suspended ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan; suspended Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan; former Maguindanao Vice Governor and later OIC Governor Sajid Islam Ampatuan; and former Mamasapano mayor later Maguindanao vice governor Akmad Ampatuan. Meanwhile, Rosales said the massacre case trial would be held at a part of the building under the detention facility. He added that the Department of Justice and the prosecution had inspected the hearing area and were satisfied with its security. The trial venue has a seating capacity of at least 120, Rosales said. “Maganda ito at malinis (It is neat and clean)," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV