GENERAL SANTOS CITY?Even in their detention cell, the Ampatuans appear to live like kings.

The suspects in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao apparently have mobile phones, catered meals, even someone who comes daily to clean their cell in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) compound at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Fermin G. Lira Jr.

Four members of the powerful clan that once enjoyed a close friendship with President Macapagal-Arroyo are being held at the CIDG lockup. Three are brothers?Zaldy Ampatuan, suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Sajid Ampatuan, former acting governor of Maguindanao; and Anwar Ampatuan, mayor of Shariff Aguak. The other is their uncle?Akmad Ampatuan, vice governor of Maguindanao.

Members of the media are barred from entering the CIDG compound. There is even a notice posted at the CIDG gate specifying the schedule of visits to the Ampatuans.

But it was observed that the Ampatuans? lawyers, friends, caterer and cleanup man could enter the CIDG compound anytime without passing a security check.

Reporters covering the CIDG have no way of knowing the cost of the catering service and the Ampatuans? daily menu.

But from the reporters? observation, the special treatment has been going on for about three weeks.

Take it to court

Reached by mobile phone yesterday morning, SPO4 Alex Pedroso, one of the desk officers on duty, denied that the CIDG was coddling the Ampatuans.

?What special treatment are they talking about? There?s no special treatment here,? Pedroso said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He challenged critics to file a case in court, saying: ?I?ll answer them there. It?s difficult if there?s too much talk.?

Boy Galano, a reporter of dxES Bombo Radyo, told the Inquirer that at around 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, he saw two of the four detained Ampatuans in a huddle with Pedroso and another CIDG member outside their detention cell.

Galano said he saw Sajid and Zaldy sitting with the two CIDG personnel at a long table where food was being served.

?They immediately rushed the two Ampatuans inside the lockup upon seeing the Bombo Radyo service vehicle. But I had already seen what was happening,? he said.

Galano had gone to Camp Fermin G. Lira Jr. to interview the city police director, Senior Supt. Marcelo Pintac. But Pintac was not around at the time.

?I told our driver to turn off the headlights of our service vehicle while approaching the CIDG compound. That?s why the CIDG men did not immediately recognize our vehicle,? Galano said.

Sanctions sought

At least 30 media workers were among the 57 people killed in Maguindanao on Nov. 23. They were part of a convoy that included lawyers and the wife and sisters of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and that was heading to Shariff Aguak to submit his certificate of candidacy for governor in the May elections.

The Ampatuans and Mangudadatus are political rivals.

Local journalists have requested the police hierarchy to look into the CIDG?s purported special treatment of the detained Ampatuans, and to impose appropriate sanctions on anyone found guilty.

They have also called for a transfer of the detainees to Manila.

Last month, citing security risks and negative effects to the tourism industry, the city council passed a resolution seeking the transfer of the detained Ampatuans elsewhere.

Justice

Weng Paraan, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, assailed the CIDG for the purported special treatment of the Ampatuans.

?Justice should be equally applied to everybody,? said Paraan, who came on Friday to observe the CIDG compound and who also saw the caterer and cleanup man enter the compound.

Paraan traveled to General Santos to meet with the families of the slain journalists and to join them in the 40th day of mourning on Saturday.

Nancy dela Cruz, mother of victim Gina dela Cruz of Socksargen Focus, decried the purported coddling of the detainees.

?That?s unfair,? said Nancy, who now cares for her dead daughter?s five children.

Myrna Reblando, wife of Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro ?Bong? Reblando, said: ?There should be no special treatment. What they did to my husband and the other victims was no special treatment.?

Dennis Ayon, husband of slain lawyer Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, said the CIDG should instead see to the welfare of the victims? families.