Tension grips Camp Bagong Diwa after Ampatuan lawyer gets into facility with ease

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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Tension gripped the detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after a lawyer for the Ampatuans who are being tried for the massacre in Maguindanao got into the facility without any difficulty Thursday.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu disclosed to media earlier in the day that he had evidence that the Ampatuans were getting special treatment inside their cell.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Chief Rosendo Dial, in an interview over 990AM said he was allowing an inspection of the Ampatuans’ detention facility.

Mangudadatu and the other relatives of the massacre victims, together with members of the prosecution team, went to the office of jail warden Glenford Valdepenas to coordinate with the inspection, informing them that Dial had agreed.

GUARDING THE AMPATUANS. Philippine National Police personnel stand guard at the perimeter fence during Maguindanao massacre trial at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, last April 7, 2011. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

But Mangudadatu, the prosecution team were told to wait outside the office of Valdepenas for about an hour.

Emotions flared when of the defense counsel casually entered the office, saying he won’t allow the prosecution team but only a representative to inspect the Ampatuan jail.

Mangudadatu said “Bakit, BJMP ka ba? Bakit sya makakadirecho sa loob [Are you from BJMP. Why is he able to go directly]?”

The lawyer, who was later identified as Philip Ang said, “Let’s all be civil.”

A staff of the warden asked for a court order from lawyers Harry Roque and Gemma Oquendo who said that the Judge herself, Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, would be allowing an on the spot inspection of the jail facility.

The warden’s office insisted that only one lawyer from the prosecution and one from the defense should inspect the facility.

Roque and Oquendo insisted that there were 58 victims and they should be represented by their families during the inspection.

“There has to be a confirmatory statement. What we follow here is checks and balances,” Oquendo argued.

They added that if all the members of the media covering the hearing would not be allowed, at least a lottery should be held to choose the media entity that would join the inspection. However, the request was not granted.

“They have no reason to deny our request and their condition is unreasonable…It only means may tinatago sila [they are hiding something],” Roque said.

Amidst the tension, Ang went out of the warden’s office and went up the building inside Camp Bagong Diwa where the Ampatuans were detained. He was seen by the relatives of the victims who called the attention of the staff of the warden.

The warden’s staff told the guards “umakyat daw [he went up]” to which the guards answered in the affirmative. The staffmember who was identified by her patch as Officer Laggui said, “Bakit nyo pinaakyat, dapat sina-sanction yan [Why did you allow him to go up. He should be sanctioned].”

Harry Roque, lawyer for the victims’ kin, said what the defense lawyer did was a “symbol of familiarity”.

The incident prompted Mangudadatu to reveal photos showing how Andal Ampatuan Sr. managed to use a mobile phone inside the detention facility.

Other photographs showed that they receive more than 10 visitors even at night when the BJMP said an accused can receive maximum of three visitors. No visitors are allowed at night or stay overnight.

Roque said that he informed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jess Robredo to ask for the CCTV video of hotel Sofitel in Pasay where two lawyers were seen with Andal Ampatuan Sr. eating with unidentified companion.

After the tension inside Camp Bagong Diwa, Mangudadatu and Oquendo went to the DILG to meet with Robredo.

Originally posted at 12:28 p.m.