QC court OKs transfer of Maguindanao massacre's backhoe operator

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court hearing the Maguindanao massacre case on Monday ordered the transfer of a possible state witness from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to the Philippine National Police's Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

In a two-page order, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the QC Regional Trial Court branch 221 directed jail officials to transfer Bong Andal from Camp Bagong Diwa to the PNP headquarters in Quezon City.

Judge Reyes gave granted the request of government prosecutors after considering the security of Andal inside the facility in Camp Bagong Diwa where other accused, including principal accused former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and ex-Maguindanao governor Andal Sr. are being detained.

Judge Reyes, however, has yet to decide on the request of government prosecutors to consider Andal as a state witness in the case involving powerful members of the Ampatuan clan.

Andal was the backhoe operator allegely directed by some of the accused to bury the victims' vehicles in a remote area in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

Some of the cadavers were still inside the vehicles when they were buried.

During the carnage, a total of 58 people, including 32 media workers and members of the clan of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, were slaughtered by some members of the Ampatuan family and their private army.