Backhoe operator at risk in Bicutan jail – DOJ exec

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday asked the Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial to allow the continued detention of the alleged backhoe operator at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

In a three-page motion for reconsideration, WPSBP director Martin Menez said transferring Bong Andal to the Quezon City Jail-Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City will make him vulnerable to physical harm, serious threats, and psychological pressure.

Menez said putting Andal together with his co-accused, against whom he will testify, will “put his life at stake” and “adversely affect his firm resolve to testify truthfully.”

Menez was appealing an earlier order of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, who directed Andal’s transfer after the prosecution panel withdrew its intention to utilize Andal as a state witness, saying his statements had already been covered by the testimony of suspect-turned-state witness Sukarno Badal. She also set his arraignment on Aug. 14.

In his earlier motion, Andal said he is still under the coverage of the witness protection program and that the prosecutors are still required not to include him in the list of the accused.

Menez explained that the withdrawal by the prosecution panel of the petition for discharge and exclusion of accused Andal from the information should not adversely affect his rights and benefits under WPSBP. “To date, accused Andal continues to be a covered witness of the WPSBP,” he said.

Andal, in a video aired by GMA-7 in June, said he was ordered by the Ampatuans to dig a large hole and push the 58 victims – 32 of them media practitioners – and their cars into the cavity.