By Jonathan Hicap and Martin Sadongdong
Members of the Ampatuan clan and other convicts in the Maguindanao massacre case were placed under tight security at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Friday.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel bring the Maguindanao massacre case convicts to their respective cells inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) maximum security camp in Muntinlupa on Dec. 19 (BuCor PIO) / MANILA BULLETIN)
“They are well-guarded and well-monitored. No special treatment,” Gabriel Chaclag, BuCor spokesperson, told Manila Bulletin.
A total of 43 suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre that occurred in Maguindanao were found guilty by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes during promulgation on Dec. 19.
Of the total, 28 principal suspects, including Zaldy Ampatuan and his brother and Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. were sentenced to imprisonment of reclusion perpetua (maximum of 40 years in jail) without parole, while 15 who were accessories to the crime were sentenced to 6 to 10 years and eight months in prison.
After the promulgation, they were immediately taken to the NBP to start serving their prison term.
They were all taken directly to the NBP maximum security camp instead of the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC), which usually receives new prisoners.
Once inside the maximum prison facility, they were photographed and fingerprinted. The BuCor will also do physical and psychological evaluations, counseling and briefing on prison rules and regulations as part of the regular procedures for newly arrived prisoners.
Chaclag said the classification of the new prisoners as to which prison camp in NBP they will be placed will follow next.
He revealed that next year, the BuCor will hire 1,500 corrections and technical corrections officers to beef up the number of its prison guards.
In the decision of Judge Solis-Reyes, the 28 who were convicted for 57 counts of murder after being found guilty “beyond reasonable doubt” were Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., Datu Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo” Ampatuan, Datu Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr., P/Insp. Saudi Mokamad, PO1 Jonathan Engid, Abedin Alamada a.k.a. Kumander Bedi, Talembo “Tammy” Masukat a.k.a. Talembo Kahar Abdulrakman, Theng P. Sali a.k.a. Abdullah Hamid Abdulkahar, Manny Ampatuan, Nasser Esmael a.k.a. Nasrudin Esmael, Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, P/CInsp. Sukarno Dicay, P/Supt. Abusama Mundas Maguid, P/Supt. Bahnarin Kamaong, Datu Anwar Ampatuan, Sr., Tato Tampogao, Mohades Ampatuan, Mohamad T. Datumanong a.k.a. Nicomedes Amad Tolentino, Misuari Ampatuan, Taya Bangkulat, Salik Bangkulat, Thong Guiamano a.k.a. Ibrahim Kamal Tatak, Sonny K. Pindi a.k.a. Joven Salazar Piang a.k.a. Bimbo Salazar Piang, Armando Ambalgan a.k.a. Jamil Bulatukan Kayansang/Bolatokan Omar (testified as Omar Bulatukan Kayansang), Kudza Masukat Uguia a.k.a. Datu Teng Ibrahim/Mustapha Ibrahim, Edres Kasan a.k.a. Edres Gogo Alip, (testified as Edris Gugo Kasan), Zacaria P. Akil a.k.a. Quago Akil and Samaon Andatuan.
Sentenced to suffer imprisonment of 6 years to 10 years and eight months for acting as accessories to the crime were P/Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg, PO3 Felix Eñate, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO2 Hamad Nana, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO2 Saudiar Ulah, PO1 Esprilieto Lejarso, PO1 Narkuok Mascud, PO1 Pia Kamidon, PO1 Esmael Guialal, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO1 Herich Amaba, P/Senior Inspector Abdulgapor Abad and Bong Andal.
Acquitted cops may return to duty
The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Friday that the policemen who were acquitted in the Maguindanao massacre will be allowed to go back to active police service.
Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said that of the 62 accused PNP personnel, 19 were found guilty while 36 others were acquitted of the charges – 17 of whom were placed on automatic leave of absence without pay while under detention while others remain at-large.
“While the PNP hails the guilty verdict meted on the principal accused and accessories to the murder of 57 individuals in the infamous Maguindanao massacre in 2009, the PNP rules and regulations also allow accused PNP personnel acquitted of charges to return to duty,” Banac said in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
However, Banac clarified that the acquitted cops will not be automatically reinstated into full duty status. The PNP will restore the full duty status of only the 17 cops who were detained should they wish to go back to police service.
“Now that they are set free by virtue of the acquittal, we are now conducting a study of their status and individual case folders to prepare our recommendation should any of them apply for restoration to full duty status,” he said.
The 17 cops will have to undergo mandatory drug test, neuro-psychiatric test, and medical examination to determine their fitness after having been away from the service for a long period of time, he said.
Meanwhile, Banac explained that all the cops involved in the Maguindanao massacre underwent separate administrative proceedings where some of them were dismissed from service due to lapses in the performance of duty – which led to the massacre – that were eventually found by the PNP.
Read more: LIST: Names of convicted and acquitted in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case