QC court: 3 prospective witnesses can't be jailed with Ampatuans

Three policemen who may turn state witness in the Ampatuan massacre trial are staying put in their present detention facility, despite a request from the Ampatuan defense that they be moved to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to join their other co-accused. Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes denied a motion seeking the transfer of Inspectors Rex Ariel Diongon and Michael Macaraeg and Police Officer 1 Rainier Ebus from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, according to a prosecution lawyer. "The order says they will remain and stay at the custodial center at Camp Crame," prosecution lawyer Nena Santos, counsel for Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, told GMANews.TV. The motion to transfer the three policemen was filed by prime murder suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Andal Jr., who argued that the three should already be moved out of Camp Crame to Taguig City since there were no pending applications for them to be admitted to the government's Witness Protection Program. However, the prosecution currently has a pending motion to remove the three co-accused, along with fellow prospective state witness Rasul Sangki, from the charge sheet. Camp Bagong Diwa serves as the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office and houses the Quezon City Jail Annex building, where the Ampatuans and other co-accused in the November 23 Maguindanao massacre are detained. In her omnibus resolution issued last Thursday, Solis-Reyes said that the three suspects' detention away from the Ampatuans "was merely a recognition of the possibility that [a] feeling of animosity may have already developed as a consequence of the proposed witnesses’ decision to testify against accused Datu Andal Ampatun Sr. and Jr." The judge added that the three will remain in a detention facility away from the Ampatuans to "obviate any possible threats, psychological pressure and undue influence." Meanwhile, PO1 Pia Kamodon and supposed Ampatuan militiamen Esmael Kanapia and Takpan Dilon — who were also asked by the Ampatuans to be transferred to Taguig City — will indeed be brought to Camp Bagong Diwa, but will be kept at a detention facility separate from where members of the powerful clan are detained. Solis-Reyes has also denied a request to transfer Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay and 14 other policemen from Camp Bagong Diwa to the PNP Custodial Center, although she ordered a separate detention cell for them within the same camp. (See: Court orders 15 massacre suspects moved to separate jail) The detained individuals, along with more than 100 others who remain at large, were charged with 57 counts of murder for the death of relatives of Mangudadatu, several lawyers and supporters, and 32 journalists in what is now considered the worst election-related, single-day violence in the Philippines.—JV, GMANews.TV