Taguig seeks removal of Bagong Diwa jails

The Sangguniang Panglunsod of Taguig passed a resolution yesterday urging President Arroyo to order the immediate removal of all jail facilities from Camp Bagong Diwa in Barangay Lower Bicutan.

With Resolution No. 25, Mayor Freddie Tinga has received support from the City Council in his opposition to the presence of the Metro Manila District Jail, where suspected Abu Sayyaf members awaiting trial are detained.

A foiled jailbreak last week led to a siege and a police assault that left more than 20 Abu Sayyaf inmates killed.

The resolution states that the jailbreak was concrete evidence "of the peril or threat to which a city like Taguig hosting a major prison facility is exposed."

Councilors said they believe "the stigmatizing incident would project a distorted and negative image of the city and scare off investors."

"There are numerous places in the country that are more secure, appropriate and more than willing to serve as an alternate site for the purpose," the Council argued.

Vice Mayor George Elias, who presides over the council, agreed with the mayor that the incident should never take place again because of its looming repercussions in the city’s growing economic status.

However, he clarified that their move should not be seen as discrimination against Muslims.

"In fact, we want to erase the negative perception the incident might have painted against Muslims in Taguig," he said.

In 2001, Tinga and thousands of Taguig residents particularly those from the Muslim community, protested the then impending transfer of trial and imprisonment of hundreds of suspected Abu Sayyaf members from Mindanao to Camp Bagong Diwa.

The government transferred 145 Abu Sayyaf detainees to the MMDJ so that hearings on their cases would be more convenient.

Authorities have tallied 107 more bandits remaining in the facility, which is controlled by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The 16 others who were convicted have been sent to the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa to serve their sentences.

The mayor earlier argued that it is not practical and even dangerous to detain Abu Sayyaf bandits in an area surrounded by Muslim communities.

Tinga stressed that they are hoping to project an image of the city as "a place where Muslims and Christians could live together harmoniously."

Hadja Fatima Celia Kiram, president of the Maharlika Villa Homeowners Association, has welcomed the move, expressing gratitude for the support of the local government has extended to Muslims.

Meanwhile, four Abu Sayyaf leaders who were among the 23 inmates killed in the assault were found to be positive for powder burns.

The result of the paraffin tests conducted by the Crime Laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicated that the Abu Sayyaf leaders fired their guns before they were killed during March 15 assault .

Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, head of the Crime Laboratory, identified those positive for powder burns as Galib Andang alias Commander Robot, Alhamsa Manalad Limbog alias Commander Kosovo and Nadmi Sabdula alias Commander Global and Sadit Abdul Hussin alias Ka Lando.

Belen said the analysis of the corpses of jail guards and other inmates have yet to be completed by his personnel. He gave his assurance that his men have been working double time to complete the task.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes has created a fact-finding committee to investigate the Bagong Diwa incident and come up with recommendations to address the problem in the country’s jail system.

Reyes said the obvious problem in the jail system is the congestion and dilapidated facilities, which apparently do not contribute to the inmates’ reformation while in detention.

The DILG chief gave 30-day period to wrap up the probe. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe