MANILA, Philippines ? The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has denied that there was any special treatment accorded to the Ampatuans detained at the Quezon City jail annex but confirmed that its warden was relieved last week.

However, BJMP Metro Manila director Chief Superintendent Serafin Barretto told INQUIRER.net that Chief Inspector Ermilito Moral?s relief was not due to the reported special treatment being given to the suspects, but was part of the jail?s regular procedure to rotate wardens every three months to avoid familiarity with the high-profile detainees.

He said Moral was relieved last November 11 and was replaced by one Captain Tolentino.

?We rotate not just the wardens but other jail officers quarterly to avoid familiarity with the accused,? Barretto said over the phone.

He added that the BJMP has not received complaints that the suspects were being given special treatment by the wardens.

For his part, BJMP Director Rosendo Dial said that the decision to regularly rotate jail officials at the Quezon City Jail was borne out of past reports that high-profile suspects? attempt to escape.

?We did this because of the reports that were released through media that some of the suspects will try to escape,? Dial said in a separate interview.