MANILA, Philippines – The convoy of some 20 sports utility vehicles, escorting Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, arrived at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) some 30 minutes from the Villamor Airbase at around 7:45 pm.

The white Hyundai Starex van (ZMM-211), which trailed the long convoy and carried Ampatuan went straight to the NBI jail.

Flanked by NBI men, Ampatuan was not handcuffed and was clad in a leather jacket with a traditional Muslim scarf wrapped around his head.

Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Jesus Dureza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Ampatuan would be held at the NBI jail “for as long as needed” based on the agreement between both the complainants and the suspect.

He said all parties agreed that Andal Jr. would be safer in NBI custody although Dureza denied that there was any specific information on any threat.

The state prosecutor, Dureza said, would have to resolve the charges of multiple murder against Ampatuan in 36 hours.

Although there was no specific threat on Ampatuan’s life, NBI security visibly tightened up at the compound hours before the expected arrival of the Datu Unsay mayor.

NBI security personnel were particularly wary of Muslims entering the compound.

Two policemen from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were accosted and ordered to turn over their 9mm service pistols.

A source from the NBI identified the two men as Senior Inspector Musa Umpan and Police Officer 1 Samir Ampatuan Emblawa.

When asked, Umpan said they had been ordered by the Maguindanao provincial administrator to “provide security.” He did not, however, identify the person they were supposed to give security to.

On the other hand, passengers of a sports utility vehicle who accompanied Ampatuan lawyer Reden Villanueva to the NBI were escorted out of the compound by mobile patrol units of the Manila Police District (MPD) when they refused to turn over their firearms.

A source from the NBI, who asked not to be named for not having been authorized to give information to media, said the passengers initially said they would keep the firearms inside the sports utility vehicle.

The group was given the option of leaving or turning over their guns.

“The group opted to leave than turn over their firearms,” the source said.