DOJ urged to conduct surprise visit to Maguindanao massacre suspects

Gov Mangudadatu urges DOJ to look also Taguig jail for unscheduled visits amidBilibid scandalBy Ferdinandh CabreraCOTABATO CITY — Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu today urged the Department of Justice to also look at the Taguig detention facility where the principal suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre were detained.Mangudadatu made the appeal to Justice Sec. Leila de Lima after she led the raid at the Bureau of Corrections detention facility exposed the luxury of convicted drug lords who have been living lavishly and luxuriously.Well off inmates of the Muntinlupa detention and rehabilitation center were found to have illegal items inside the cell, including expensive music studio, an expensive Japanese bath tub, luxury watches, among others, including illegal drugs.Mangudadatu said the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre could be living lavishly in Taguig detention center similar to the drug lords in Muntinlupa.Mangudadatu said he received report that suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Andal Unsay” Jr. are still using cellphones and internet freely inside the jail.He refused to provide details but said the information has been relayed to DOJ.He said what DOJ found in Muntinlupa could also be happening at the Taguig detention center where the suspects in the massacre have been given priviliges by jail guards.Mangudadatu cited the recent ambush offormer Datu Salibo town Mayor Akmad Ampatuanand Dennis Sakal who died in an ambush after they expressed desire to become state witness against the Ampatuans.Sakal who was a former close aide of Andal Jr. who was killed in an ambush in Shariff Aguak last month.Akmad Ampatuan is a nephew of Andal Sr. who turned his back against his relatives and was to jointhe prosecution as one of the vital witnesses of the November 23, 2009massacre. That is what I’m saying even before, they still have the command and power to initiate attacks despite beinginside the jail andthat should be seriously look into, there must be an unscheduled visits too,” Mangudadatu said.This was also Mangudadatu’s claim during a road side bomb attack against him and his convoy of vehicles heading to a family owned resort in Tacurong City to celebrate his birthday.Mangudadatu as the main complainant of the Ampatuans after he lost his wife, sisters, relatives and media friends, including innocent civilian commuters in the country's deadliest election related violence in the history.The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) also demanded the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to strictly implement the rules for detainees.” We call on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to apply the same zeal she displayed in uncovering the Muntinlupa scandal...the accused in the Ampatuan Massacre are not, in any way, allowed access to perks and luxuries that less privileged detainees are deprived of, he said.