BJMP denies Ampatuan 'party' but DILG sets probe

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) denied Tuesday reports that members of the Ampatuan clan were allowed to hold a party inside their detention facility in another supposed show of special treatment last weekend.

But while BJMP head Director Rosendo Dial denied that such a party took place on Saturday, the Interior Department said it has ordered an investigation into the matter.

"Sabi ng warden clarify niya walang nangyaring party doon noong Sabado. Nagkaroon ng party sa kabila sa SAF [Special Action Force] noong linggo. May birthday ng opisyal ng SAF (I talked to the warden and he clarified there was no party last Saturday. The party was for an official of the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force, who celebrated his birthday at the time)," Dial said in an interview on dzXL radio.

He said the SAF headquarters was located behind the jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Even the loud music reportedly coming from the Ampatuan party was supposedly from the SAF party, Dial added.

Inmates are disallowed from holding parties for people outside their "registered" immediate relatives, Dial said.

"Hindi pwedeng napakaraming kamaganak, ang immediate family ang allowed, sino ang registered na immediate family (We cannot allow people outside registered immediate family members to join the inmates)," he said.

On the other hand, Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus said there are guidelines to be followed for parties.

"Pag Pasko mag-party ang inmates pwede yan pero may guideline na dapat sundan. Di dapat kahit anong oras pwede magsaya(On occasions like Christmas inmates can party but still there are guidelines to be followed)," he said in a separate interview on dzXL radio.

Earlier, dzXL radio reported the Department of Justice (DOJ) has started an investigation into the matter.

Source: GmaNews