MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the request of the Department of Justice for the transfer of the hearing venue and detention of Manguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.

The Supreme Court said Ampatuan Jr. will be transferred from Camp Crame in Quezon City to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

It said Judge Jocelyn Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 221 will remain as trial judge. She is directed to hold court proceedings in Taguig.

Previous hearings were held in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Ampatuan Jr., who is the mayor of Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao massacre, is accused of leading armed supporters in the massacre of 57 men in Maguindanao last November 23. The massacre is considered the worst incidence of election-related violence in the country's history.

In her letter dated February 17, 2010, outgoing Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera requested that the trial of the multiple murder case be transferred from Camp Crame to Camp Bagong Diwa due to several reasons.

Devanadera noted that the Ampatuan’s transfer the NBI, where he is presently detained, to Camp Crame, poses security risks because of the predictable routes from the NBI headquarters along Taf Avenue to Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Furthermore, Devanadera said this set-up has hampered the regular transactions inside Camp Crame as police personnel could not perform their regular duties and responsibilities.

She added that conducting the trial inside Camp Bagong Diwa is more cost-effective than in Camp Crame as security arrangements for both detention facilities and venue of the hearing maybe provided within the premises of Camp Bagong Diwa.