Cop tagged in Maguindanao massacre moved to Bicutan

MANILA, Philippines - A police officer accused of participating in the Maguindanao massacre was turned over by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Quezon City Jail-Annex in Bicutan, Taguig City despite his plea asking the court not to do so as it might endanger his life once he is detained with other suspects.

During the hearing yesterday, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ruled that the motion to hold in abeyance the transfer of custody filed by suspect Police Officer 1 Pia Kamidon is moot and academic as he has been transferred to Bicutan.

Solis-Reyes ordered the suspect’s lawyer, Jayson Ison, to file another motion if he wants the suspect to be returned to the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In a letter to Solis-Reyes last week, PNP Custodial Center chief Superintendent Mario Pagulayan Malana said Kamidon was moved to Bicutan on April 1, two days after he filed the motion before the court.

In his motion, Kamidon said the court must consider his safety when it ordered his transfer to the Quezon City Jail-Annex.

Ison argued that while the prosecutors have no intention to use him as a state witness, it is apparent that they did not oppose his plea to remain at the PNP Custodial Center.

Feelings of animosity

In an order dated March 24, assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada denied the motion of Kamidon, who asked for the reconsideration of an earlier ruling that ordered his transfer to the jail, which is in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The suspect said the rest of the accused, who are detained in Camp Bagong Diwa, may have developed a feeling of animosity against him due to his intention to testify for the prosecution.

He said the prosecution panel’s “apparent indecisiveness” to use him as a state witness cannot change the fact that his co-accused “may have likewise entertained distrust and feelings of animosity and hostility towards him.”

In September 2013, Solis-Reyes ordered the transfer of Kamidon and Takpan Dilun to Camp Bagong Diwa as the possibility of them to be utilized as prosecution witnesses is nil.

In appealing the order, Kamidon said the fact that he is largely known to have agreed to testify against his co-accused is sufficient to invite animosity and suspicion on the part of his co-accused.

“It is not difficult to infer that a prospective witness yet to testify is at greater risk than a witness who had already testified,” he said.

But in their comment, the prosecution panel said they have no intention of using him as a state witness.

Kamidon is among the 108 suspects arrested for the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners. A total of 197 people were initially charged in the incident.