On orders of the courts, the military moved to transfer on Friday the 38 members of the Morong 43 to Camp Crame in Quezon City, but the Philippine National Police (PNP) refused to take custody of the suspected NPA members citing lack of facility at their custodial center as well as security concerns.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr., Army spokesman, said after completing the necessary procedure, the 38 suspected NPA rebels were transported at 8 a.m. from Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal to Camp Crame.

This is in accordance with the court order granting the motion to transfer the custody of the detainees to the warden of the PNP custodial center at Camp Crame, said Torres.

“However, with the PNP’s timely filing of motion for reconsideration to transfer detention venue for lack of suitable facility and security concerns during hearings, we were compelled to maintain the status quo and bring the detainees back to Tanay detention center,” Torres said.