BJMP on alert for Ampatuan massacre case verdict

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) assigned at the Quezon City Jail annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City will be placed on full alert a day before the promulgation of judgment of the Maguindanao massacre case on Dec. 19.

“The whole facility will be on full alert status starting Dec. 18,” BJMP spokesman Chief Insp. Xavier Solda said yesterday.

Solda said additional personnel would be deployed at the detention facility to ensure that no untoward incident would happen when Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes renders her verdict on the 10-year-old case.

He said the contingent would be enough to ensure the safety of those attending the promulgation.

Solda said aside from securing the premises of the detention facility, jail guards would also be stationed inside the courtroom to prevent any altercation between relatives of the Ampatuans and the victims.

Vehicles are ready to transport the defendants to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in the event they are convicted, Solda said.

The BJMP will hold a meeting with officials of the Department of Justice and Philippine National Police (PNP) today to finalize security preparations.

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife was among those killed in the infamous massacre, is confident that the Ampatuans will be found guilty of murder following the Supreme Court (SC)’s decision to allow live media coverage of the promulgation. 

“Because of the SC ruling, we are certain that the court will issue a guilty verdict,” Mangudadatu said.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac assured Mangudadatu of protection after the congressman said that his police escorts were pulled out a week before the promulgation of the case.

Fifty-eight people, including 32 media workers, were killed in the massacre allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuans and their private army on Nov. 23, 2009.

Among the principal suspects are Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his brothers Zaldy and Sajid Ampatuan.

Zaldy, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslin Mindanao, remains confined at the Makati Medical Center. – With Delon Porcalla