eight of the “Morong 43” detainees were finally taken from a military camp in Rizal province to a facility at the Philippines National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City Friday morning. But their much-awaited transfer was short-lived as they only stayed at the police facility for less than an hour, after authorities decided to take them back to Camp Capinpin in Tanay because Crame's Custodial Center was already overcrowded. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the 38 detained health workers, arrested last Feb. 6 on suspicion of being New People's Army (NPA) rebels, arrived before 10 A.M. at Camp Crame on two buses, which were part of the 11-vehicle convoy of four military trucks, an ambulance, and police mobile patrol, among others. A local court in Rizal ordered Wednesday the transfer of the 38 health workers from military to police custody. Five of the “Morong 43” remain detained at Camp Capinpin after admitting they are NPA members, officials said. Espina said the PNP and the military will have to observe a “status quo” – meaning, the detainees would stay in Camp Capinpin until the court rules on the PNP's petition for a change in detention venue.First Lt. Celeste Frank Sayson, spokesperson of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, said they were aware of the PNP's motion for reconsideration but went on transporting the detainees to Camp Crame to comply with the court ruling. In a manifestation with motion for reconsideration, Superintendent Cesar Magsino, chief of the PNP Custodial Center (PNCC), asked the Morong court to recall its order to transfer the 38 health workers to Camp Crame.
