Mangudadatu wants Maguindanao police chief probed for transferring his security escorts

MANILA, Philippines — Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu wants Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to investigate the police chief of Maguindanao for supposedly transferring his police escorts to other units, ahead of the December 19 promulgation on the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Mangudadatu said his police escorts have been transferred by Maguindanao police director Col. Arnold Santiago to other units “to make it hard” for them to report to him and secure him.

He said he wants to discuss the matter through a meeting with Año and Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police. As Interior Secretary, Año is also the chairman of the National Police Commission.

“Na pa-imbestigahan ‘yung ginagawa ng provincial director d’yan sa amin ngayon kasi iniipit ako, iniipit ‘yung mga mayors. Sabi ko ganito ‘yung ginagawa ni Ampatuan sa akin dati,” he said when asked in an ABS-CBN News Channel interview on what he wants to tell Año when they meet.

(To investigate what the provincial director is doing to me and the mayors. This is what Ampatuan was doing to me before.)

“Natatakot ako. Ngayon tatanggalan ka ng body guards na mga pulis, ililipat ‘yung assignment ng body guard mo na pulis. Sabi ko ano ba itong nangyayari na naman sa akin ngayon (I am afraid. They transfer the assignment of my body guards who are policemen. What is happening to me again)?” he also said.

“Ano ba itong ginagawa ng provincial director? Baka na naman, may Maguindanao massacre na naman dito na mangyayari (What is the provincial director doing now? Maybe another Maguindanao massacre will happen),” he then said.

But in an interview with INQUIRER.net, Santiago denied having any authority over Mangudadatu’s police escorts, saying they were deployed by the PNP – Police Security Protection Group (PSPG).

He added that he does not meddle in politics in Maguindanao, saying that he is not even from the province.

“Non-partisan po ako kung anumang meron sa politika dito (I am non-partisan about anything that happens in politics here),” he said.

Amid his concern about his police escorts, Mangudadatu said Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, had also sent him soldiers for his security on his request.

Should the meeting with Año and Gamboa push through, Mangudadatu said he also wants to ask them to beef up security efforts for the promulgation on the grisly massacre to be held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, expressing fears on worst-case scenarios, including being a victim of snipers.

Edited by MUF