Victims' kin call for surprise visits on jailed Ampatuans

 MANILA, Philippines - The families of the Maguindanao massacre victims will press the government to allow them to conduct surprise visits in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to check whether members of the Ampatuan clan – the principal suspects in case – are getting special treatment.

At the 18th month commemoration of the massacre held at the House of Representatives, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. pressed for swift justice for the victims.

“After 18 months, the House is asking, too, what happened to the case? We are one with the families and supporters of the victims in seeking justice,” Belmonte said.

Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III said the public must not forget the massacre to ensure justice for the victims.

“As long as we never forget, we keep justice within reach...Our homage to the victims is our mark of vigilance,” Tañada said.

Six members of the Ampatuan clan are currently in jail – former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.; his son, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Rizaldy Ampatuan; former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.; former Shariff Aguak mayor Datu Anwar Ampatuan; former vice governor Datu Sajid Ampatuan; and former Mamasapano mayor Akmad Ampatuan.

The other 90 suspects who have been arrested are also in the police camp.

There are at least 196 suspects accused of involvement in the murder of 57 people, including 32 media workers, on Nov. 23, 2009 in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town.

The victims’ families, who organized themselves into a group called Justice Now!, and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said they will send a letter to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting access to the jail holding the members of the powerful clan.

The families said they have been receiving reports that the Ampatuans have been getting special treatment while in detention.

NUJP secretary general Rowena Paraan said the Ampatuans reportedly have their own helpers, catered food, airconditioned rooms and allowed the use of cellular phones.

There were also reports that the Ampatuans were also able to leave the facility in the company of jail guards, she said.

“If somebody like (former Batangas governor Antonio) Leviste can get out of jail anytime he pleases, then it’s not far-fetched that it happens also to somebody like the Ampatuans, who are more powerful and wealthy than Leviste,” Paraan said.

NUJP vice president Alwyn Alburo said families of the victims want transparency from the government on how the suspects are being treated in jail.