The trial of the Maguindanao massacre and even the detention of its principal suspect, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., might be moved to a more secured facility in Taguig City once all of the more than 160 more respondents are accounted for, a Cabinet official said Wednesday.

This as the National Bureau of Investigation assured that it is not giving Ampatuan Jr. any special treatment such as conjugal visits and use of mobile phones.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said they have already brought up to the attention of the Department of Justice the problem of having all the respondents transported from detention facilities to the trial venue every time there is a hearing in connection with the gruesome Maguindanao massacre on November 23 last year.

“They have to be as close as possible to the hearing site so we don’t transfer the people too often. If you keep on moving for example more than 100 prisoners from their detention to the trial venue, it would require large security operations and there is always the possibility that something would happen while they are being transported,” Puno said.

Ampatuan Jr. is currently being held at the NBI detention facility in Manila while the rest of the more than 160 other suspects are still the subject of manhunt operations in Maguindanao and nearby areas.

Puno said security for the current trial in Camp Crame in Quezon City can be easily handled by the police and the NBI since only Ampatuan Jr. is required to attend, but said it would be a major headache once the number of respondents ballooned to more than 100.

Puno said there are no other well-secured areas in Metro Manila except the maximum security facility in Bicutan, Taguig which is not only ideal as a trial venue but an excellent detention area for all the accused as well.

The official is banking on the success of the hearing and detention of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group members who were all detained and tried in Bicutan.

Puno also junked proposals for Ampatuan Jr. to be transferred to the Quezon City Jail.

“The case of Andal Ampatuan (Jr.) is a matter of security more than it is a matter of convenience. If we bring him to the QC Jail, can we assure that he will still be alive a week later?” he said.

The NBI for its part said Ampatuan Jr. has not received any conjugal visit since his detention at the bureau.

Lawyer Noel Morales, chief of the NBI Security Management Division (SMD), said women relatives have already visited him but they were not allowed to enter his detention cell.

“All visitors are not allowed to go inside the jail premises. They can stay at the visitor’s area and there is a wire fence separating the NBI jail main entrance from the visitor’s area,” said Morales.

Morales also said Ampatuan and his fellow inmates are not allowed to have cellular phones. He said there is a phone booth inside the premises and all inmates can use it.

“All inmates can use that (telephone booth). But they can’t have mobile phone inside the jail premises,” Morales.

Lawyer Romulo Asis, executive officer of the Office of the Intelligence Services and concurrent spokesman for Task Force Ampatuan and Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of Field Operations Division and commander of Task Force Ampatuan, denied reports that Ampatuan is being accorded VIP treatment.

“We provided a media box because we want the media to see how Ampatuan is being brought out and being returned to the jail when he attended his arraignment and petition for bail in Camp Crame. We want transparency,” said Argabioso.