Jail officials told to explain Ang’s transfer

The Special Division of the Sandiganbayan ordered yesterday a prison official and a warden to personally explain to the court why they should not be cited for contempt for transferring Charlie "Atong" Ang from the Quezon City jail to the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center in Bicutan, Taguig without a court order.

In a one-page resolution, the Special Division ordered Quezon City Jail Warden Superintendent Ignacio Panti and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) acting National Capital Region director Senior Superintendent Serafin Barreto to appear in court on Monday at 9 a.m.

Panti, in a two-page urgent manifestation had informed the Sandiganbayan that he complied with the court’s order and took custody of Ang last Nov. 15.

Panti, however, told the court that on Nov. 16 at about 1:35 p.m., Barretto personally supervised and facilitated the transfer of Ang from the Quezon City Jail to the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center.

Earlier, Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said he would file motion requesting the court to order the BJMP to explain why Atong was moved to Bicutan without a court order.

Villa-Ignacio said he also wants the anti-graft court to grill Barretto on his reason for facilitating Ang’s transfer.

According to Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus, Barretto saw the need to transfer Ang.

Corpus said any warden could transfer an inmate from one jail to another if he believes that the inmate’s life is in danger.

But Villa-Ignacio said the threat to Ang’s life has yet to be proven.