Maguindanao massacre suspects spread out in different cells

MANILA, Philippines - The new warden of the Quezon City Jail Annex has spread out the more than 80 suspects in the Ampatuan massacre to different cells to “avoid accusations of special treatment” and prevent them from plotting a “conspiracy.”

Jail Senior Inspector Bernardino Edgar Camus said the changes were immediately implemented when he assumed office in May, adding that he is considering additional security measures.

“There were accusations before that [the suspects] can plot conspiracies because they were together in the cells,” Camus said.

Camus said the suspects, mostly Muslims, were distributed in various cells and are now joined by ordinary detainees, including Christians. Camus is the sixth jail warden to supervise the QC-Jail annex since the Ampatuans were brought there in April 2010.