Aquino concerned about special treatment for Ampatuans

BANGKOK, Thailand—President Aquino has expressed concern about the reported laxity of prison officials who allowed former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. to roam around the premises of the jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Speaking with reporters covering his two-day state visit here on Thursday night, Mr. Aquino said this was not the first time he had been told of the alleged special treatment afforded to the jailed members of the influential Ampatuan clan.

He said he had not heard previously that the Ampatuan patriarch had been photographed outside the jail, “but I want to see if there were really such photos,” the President said when asked if had been apprised of the photographs that Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu showed journalists on Thursday.

According to the President, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo informed him that he had led a surprise inspection of the building, where Ampatuan and other clan members accused of slaughtering 57 people in Maguindanao, were detained.

“What I know is that he received such a report for at least three or four instances. He went there not less than twice on a random day, but he did not see those (alleged special treatment),” Mr. Aquino said.