Calamba security tightened

Tight security will be thrown around the Calamba City Regional Trial Court (RTC) when jailed former governor Nur Misuari is tried in the courtroom of Judge Norberto Gonzales.

The Supreme Court has ordered that Misuari’s trial for rebellion be held at the Calamba RTC while a P2.9-million courthouse is being built at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the training camp of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force.

Chief Superintendent Domingo Reyes Jr., Southern Tagalog police director, told The STAR in an interview yesterday he will deploy crack police units to secure the judge who will handle Misuari’s case, along with the judge’s staff and the government prosecutors.

"We are just waiting for an official order from the Supreme Court on when the trial proper will begin, before going into action," Reyes said.

"We have yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court ruling. We are providing the presiding judge and his court employees security escorts to and from their place of work. It is good that (Misuari) will be tried in Fort Sto. Domingo so we don’t have to secure him outside."

Misuari’s armed followers, who are known as Agar-Agar, have reportedly arrived in Metro Manila, awaiting orders to bolt their leader out of jail.

The Supreme Court granted Thursday the justice department’s request that the venue of Misuari’s trial be moved from Jolo, Sulu to Fort Sto. Domingo.

Misuari has been detained in a prison bungalow – built to hold ousted President Joseph Estrada and his son, Jinggoy – inside Fort Sto. Domingo since his repatriation from Malaysia early this month.

Director Lucas Managuelod, head of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said construction of the courthouse inside Fort Sto. Domingo would start within two days and completed in two to three weeks.

"The courthouse will have a sala, a judge’s chamber, rooms for the prosecution and defense panels, and a conference room," he said. "It will be built near the prison bungalow where Misuari is detained."

The Supreme Court also ordered police officials to "increase and strengthen" the level of security in Fort Sto. Domingo to ensure the safety and well being of residents of Sta. Rosa.

Authorities have been very concerned about the security aspect of handling the case of Misuari.

Residents of Barangay Sto. Domingo, which surrounds Fort Sto. Domingo, have urged the government to immediately transfer Misuari to another place of detention outside Laguna, saying that his armed followers might try to spring him out of jail and cause havoc in their barangay. — Jaime Laude