Warden denies Ampatuans getting special treatment

A jail warden has denied a claim that the members of the Ampatuan clan jailed at Camp Bagong Diwa were allegedly getting special treatment while in detention. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters on Wednesday that members of the powerful clan, including patriarch Andal Sr. and his son suspended ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, were using the court room where trial for their case is held as a "receiving area" for their visitors.

 The makeshift court room, previously a canteen, was built to accomodate the large number of accused in the case —196 individuals — during court proceedings.

 The hearing of the high-profile case was previously conducted inside the Philippine National Headquarters in Quezon City but it was transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. Insp. Adelo Natividad, deputy jail warden, in an earlier interview with GMANews.TV had already belied the reports. 

"Hindi sila binibigyan ng special treatment at okay sila dito. Mababait at sumusunod sila sa amin dito," said Natividad.

 GMANews.TV, in a text message, asked Ampatuan's lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, for comment but received no reply. Relaxation area? According to the source of the reporters, jailed members of the Ampatuan clan were allegedly seen "receiving guests inside the court room" referring to the makeshift courtroom at Camp Bagong Diwa. The source also alleged the makeshift court also served as the Ampatuan massacre inmates' relaxation area, where they even get massages.

 "We have received reports that the prisoners abound in the court room even when there's no hearing," the source said.

 The suspects in the Ampatuan massacre are detained at the Quezon City Jail Annex (QCJA) at Camp Bagong Diwa. No special treatment Sr Insp. Emmanuel Tolentino, the current jail warden, denied that the Ampatuans were receiving special treatment.

 Tolentino, however, said three of his predecessors were relieved within the last seven months that the Ampatuans have been staying inside the QCJA. 

Tolentino, speaking to reporters after Wednesday's hearing, denied that the frequent change in command at the jail facility had something to do with the alleged special treatment of the Ampatuans. 

He said Sr. Insp. Lloyd Gonzaga was reportedly sacked after allowing the former Andal Ampatuan Jr. to hold a press conference while in detention in April.

 His successor Supt. Clement Laboy, meanwhile, was allegedly relieved for allowing suspect and suspended Autonomous Governor Zaldy to undego check up without a court order. 

 Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Ermilito Moral was sacked last week and was replaced by Tolentino.

 Posing danger to attendees Reacting to reports about the special treatment being received by the Ampatuans in detention and how they were allegedly receiving guests in the court room, prosecution lawyer Nena Santos expressed worries it could pose danger to attendees of court proceedings. 

"Malay niyo baka may maglagay ng bomba dito. Hind natin masabi (Who knows, someone might place a bomb here. We never know)," Santos said. 

The private prosecutor, who serves as the legal counsel for Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, said she would be requesting that bomb-sniffing dogs be deployed inside the court room before each hearing begins to ensure everyone's safety.

 Maguindanao massacre The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre, occurred on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan town in Mindanao's Maguindanao province. At that time, the massacre victims were on their way to file Esmael Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu, the vice-mayor of Buluan town at the time of the massacre, eventually won the gubernatorial race in the May 10, 2010 polls. The 57 people who were killed and buried in a mass grave in Ampatuan town included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, as well as journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. — VVP, GMANews.TV