MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Some 300 policemen will be securing the national police camp at Camp Crame, Quezon City during the high-profile trial on the Maguindanao massacre that has been set on January 5, 2010, a police spokesman said on Monday.
At the same time, construction of the makeshift courtroom is now underway at the Police Non-Commissioned Officers A. I. building inside the police camp where the trial will be held for the murder of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province last November 23.
One of those expected to attend the trial is Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is the key suspect in the massacre.
Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina gave reporters a tour of the multi-purpose hall that has been converted into a court room.
The room where the trial will be held will be air-conditioned and measures 600 square meters. Dividers have also been put up as designated areas for lawyers and their respondents, witnesses, family members and the media.
Espina said that the room can hold up to 120 people. Security will be tight during the hearing and only accredited media personnel will be allowed inside the court room.
Construction of the court room began only on December 24 and is expected to be finished before the hearing on January 5.
Media not accredited will be allowed to stay in a designated press area outside the PNCO building, Espina said.
The 300 policemen from the PNP’s Base Police will be deployed in the court room and around Camp Crame. Espina said the number excludes the augmentation from the Highway Patrol Group and the National Capital Region Police office.
Espina added that all other PNP personnel will be on standby for immediate deployment as needed. He said that the police will be taking orders from the courts, specifically from Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, since the PNP will only be “hosting” the trial.
“We are just hosting the venue. All regulations and policies should come from the Quezon City regional trial court,” Espina said in an interview.
Meanwhile, PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said deploying police personnel for the hearing would be easy.
“We are ready anytime. We are under the direction of the Supreme Court pertaining to the operation of the courts here. [Deployment of personnel] will be easy because we already have an existing security system in place here,” Verzosa said.
Espina also appealed to media personalities to observe proper decorum when covering the hearing on January 5.
He made the appeal after a photographer hit Ampatuan with his camera during the preliminary investigation held at the Department of Justice last December 18.
He said any member of the media caught for unruly behavior will be arrested and charged appropriately.
