Ivler transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa

Murder suspect Jason Ivler was transferred on Tuesday to the highly secured Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City following reports that he was receiving special treatment at the Quezon City jail. The transfer was based from the April 15 commitment order issued by Judge Bayani Vargas of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 219. Ivler left the Quezon City facility at about 1:50 p.m. accompanied by personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. He was charged with murder in connection with the killing of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. during a traffic altercation along Santolan Road on Nov. 18, 2009. Ebarle was the son of Renato Ebarle Sr., an undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff during the Arroyo administration.

Also jailed at the Camp Bagong Diwa facility were members of the Ampatuan clan who were implicated in the infamous Maguindanao massacre, where 57 people were killed. Judge Vargas issued the two-page order after granting the motion of the prosecution, which claimed that Ivler has been receiving special treatment at the Quezon City jail. In their motion, prosecution lawyers alleged that Quezon City jail officials allowed parties — with alcohol and women — inside the facility. This led to the removal of the jail facility’s supervisor, Superintendent Hernan Grande, pending an official investigation. Grande’s replacement, Superintendent Joseph Vela, asked QCRTC Acting Executive Judge Fernando Sagun to immediately transfer Ivler to Camp Bagong Diwa for being a “high-risk" prisoner. Judge Sagun opted not to act on Vela’s request in view of the pending motion of the prosecution. He instead directed Judge Vargas to act on the motion the soonest possible time. - KBK, GMA News