Fiscals seek Ivler's transfer over alleged special treatment

MANILA, Philippines -  The prosecution has asked a court hearing the case against Jason Ivler to transfer the road rage murder suspect to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City because he was allegedly receiving special treatment at the Quezon City Jail (QCJ).

“We gravely and seriously doubt the integrity and capability of the QCJ to observe and implement the jail laws, rules and regulations for inmates as in Ivler’s case,” the prosecutors told Judge Bayani Vargas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 219.

The detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan houses other high-profile detainees like members of the Ampatuan clan, who are implicated in the “Maguindanao massacre” multiple murder case.

Prosecutors also asked Vargas to cite for contempt those who allegedly violated jail rules and regulations in giving the suspect such treatment.

They claimed jail personnel violated rules for inmates during the Christmas season, citing postings on Facebook and Youtube that purportedly showed photos of women and prohibited items such as liquor in the jail with Ivler. They said the footage and photos may have been taken down since then.

“Women, alcoholic beverages, and other persons who are not jail authorities or have nothing to do with the case or jail, most likely friends and relatives, have been allowed inside the jail,” they said.

The prosecution claimed a video of Ivler showed the suspect inside his detention cell as he cursed the prosecutors, allegedly exhorting viewers to commit violence against the prosecutors or “make it difficult for them to come to court and attend his trial.”

They also said that based on the photos and footage, the suspect appears to be “hearty, hale and very healthy” and that he does not need the “immediate hospitalization” that he is asking from the court.

The panel, led by State Prosecutor Ma. Cristina Rilloraza, also asked the court to cite Ivler’s mother, Marlene Aguilar-Pollard, in contempt or impose sanctions on her for allegedly circulating letters to the media, one addressed to Vargas and the other to United States President Barack Obama, “denigrating” the Philippine criminal justice system.

Superintendent Nestor Velasquez, who was warden of the city jail until January this year, said the alleged special treatment given to Ivler could not have happened under his watch.

“In my time, liquor and other prohibited items really could not be smuggled inside the jail,” he said.