Backhoe operator transferred to Bicutan

MANILA, Philippines - The alleged operator of the backhoe used in digging the graves of the victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre was flown in yesterday to Manila.

Bong Andal arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from Cotabato City at 3 p.m. He was escorted by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by Inspectors Pedro Austria and David Toctocan.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 has ordered the transfer of Andal from Cotabato City to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The judge directed the warden of the Quezon City Jail-Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa to take custody of Andal.

Andal was committed to the Quezon City Jail-Annex “for confinement and safe-keeping during the pendency” of the cases filed against him.

He is among 195 people tagged in the massacre that claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners.

He was arrested Saturday in Midsayap, North Cotabato in an entrapment operation conducted jointly by local police and the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion.

Based on court records, Andal was the 100th massacre suspect arrested by authorities.

The list included Police Officer 1 Johann Draper whose case has since been dismissed, and Police Officer 2 Hernani Decipulo who died earlier this year after jumping from the rooftop of his detention facility in Bicutan.

The court has yet to schedule the arraignment of Andal.– Rudy Santos, Janvic Mateo