Cops charged in Maguindanao massacre seek transfer to Camp Crame

MANILA, Philippinnes — Several policemen charged with the massacre in Maguindanao in 2009 asked a Quezon City court to order their transfer to Camp Crame after the suicide of their fellow accused last week.

In a pleading, the 14 police officers urged Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 to have them detained instead at the Headquarters Support Service’s Custodial Service Unit.

“In view of the circumstances, the accused plead to the indulgence of the court for their transfer from their present detention cell to Camp Crame in Quezon City,” the document read.

This was after Police Officer 2 Hernani Decipulo jumped off from the fourth floor of the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City where the accused were being held.

They are: PO1 Herich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO3 Felix Enate, PO1 Narkok Mascud, SPO1 Eduardo Ong, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani; PO3 Hamad Nana, PO1 Esmael Guialal, SPO1 Oscar Donato, PO1 Abdula Baguadatu, PO1 Pia Kamudin and PO1 Esprielito Lejarso.

All were then assigned to the 1508th Provincial Mobile Group which set up checkpoints in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009, the day more than 50 people, including journalists, were killed in one of the most violent election-related incidents.

The policemen claimed they were suffering from “low morale” after Decipulo’s suicide on February 6, and that they feared for their lives.

Reyes is hearing the 57 murder counts against the 196 accused, which includes members of the powerful Ampatuan clan.