To ensure the safety of possible witnesses, the prosecution asked a Quezon City court for the transfer from the Bicutan jail facility of the police officers who want to testify against their co-accused in the Maguindanao massacre.

In a five page urgent motion, the prosecution requested Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 to order the transfer of the police officers from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

“There are compelling reasons for herein accused to be transferred back to the PNP Custodial Center to ensure their safety and security so that they can testify truthfully, free from any threat, undue influence and physical harm,” said the prosecutors led by Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon.

The police officers wanting to be transferred include Inspector Sukarno Dicay, SPO1 Eduardo Ong, PO3 Felix Enate, Jr., PO3 Anton Rasid, PO3 Abdulgani Abibudin, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO2 Nana Hamad, PO2 Saudiar Ulah, PO2 Hernani Saulong Decupido, Jr., PO1 Esmael Guialal, PO1 Abdullah Baguadatu, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Herich Amaba, and PO1 Michael Madsig.

The prosecutors alleged that one of the 14 policemen received a threat from the principal suspect in the case Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his father Andal Sr.

“On April 22, 2010, we received a report that accused Datu Andal Ampatuan and Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr., a.k.a. Datu Unsay has threatened accused SPO2 Badawi Bakal that something untoward will befall him and/or his family if he refuses to sign a document falsely identifying prosecution witness Rasul Sangki as among those who shot the victims of the Ampatuan massacre,” they said.

Sangki is the prosecution’s star witness in the Maguindanao massacre case.

The prosecution noted that keeping the prospective prosecution witnesses with their co-accused inside Camp Bagong Diwa will leave them “vulnerable to physical harm, serious threats, psychological pressure and undue influence” that could affect their testimony.

According to the prosecution, Superintendent Cesar Magsino, chief of the PNP Custodial Center said the PNP will produce the accused whenever the court needs their presence.

The Ampatuans are facing murder charges in connection with the gruesome killing of 57 people in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.