Mangudadatu wants bimonthly reshuffle of Ampatuan guards

The reshuffle of jail personnel, including the warden, guarding the Maguindanao massacre suspects inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City should be done at least twice a month, according to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu. Current policies observed at Camp Bagong Diwa require a warden and other jail officials to be replaced every three months to prevent them from getting too familiar with the inmates, which include prominent members of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The policy was enforced after relatives of Maguindanao massacre victims claimed to have received reports that the suspects were receiving special treatment while in detention. Currently, a total of 124 prisoners are staying inside the QC Jail Annex, 81 of them are suspects in the Maguindanao massacre. Of this number, six are members of the Ampatuan family, including patriarch Andal Sr. and his sons Andal Jr. Zaldy, and Sajid. Twenty-four are supposed members of the clan’s private army while 50 are local Maguindanao policemen. The remaining 43 inmates are either convicts or suspected members of notorious crime syndicates in the country. "Dapat iyan, hindi na every three months. Dapat every month or if possible, every two weeks pinapalitan sila. Dapat mas madalas," said Mangudadatu, whose wife and two sisters were among the 57 people killed in the November 2009 massacre. The governor's appeal came at the heels of the replacement of QC Jail Annex warden Senior Inspector Bernardino Edgar Camus, who assumed the post last May. He was succeeded by Superintendent Hilbert Flor. Mangudadatu welcomed Flor’s appointment, saying he has already met with the new warden. The governor said he plans to hold further talks with Flor and if possible, conduct a "background check" on him. "Siyempre kailangan," he said. The prosecution in the massacre trial, citing reliable sources, earlier said the Ampatuans were able to use the makeshift court room inside the QC Jail Annex as reception area for their visitors and as a "massage parlor." Weeks ago, Mangudadatu showed photographs to the media showing Andal Sr. out of his detention cell although still within the jail facility’s compound. He also claimed that the clan patriarch was able to use mobile phones inside the facility, and even has his own cook and masseur. Former jail warden Chief Inspector Glennford Valdepenas, whom Camus succeeded, denied any VIP treatment on the Ampatuans, and said there was nothing wrong with the patriarch being able to roam the facility "just to get some air." - KBK, GMA News