COTABATO CITY- Three suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, which killed at least 57 persons last November, were transferred to a detention facility in Metro Manila from Cotabato City on Friday afternoon.

Edres Kasan, Butukan Malang and Datutuhon Esmail were brought to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The 3 suspects, who were under the custody of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM), were transported in 2 separate flights to Manila.

Kasan, Malang and Esmail were allegedly members of civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) reportedly controlled by leading members of the powerful Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao.

Former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been tagged as the principal suspect in the massacre.

Kasan was arrested after being shot by unidentified suspects at Barangay Labu-Labu in Shariff Aguak, capital town of Maguindanao province.

Malang and Esmail, meanwhile, said they were not involved in the massacre, and that they surrendered themselves to authorities to clear their names.

The 3 also denied being members of CVOs.

Superintendent Jacinto Malinao, CIDG-ARMM chief, said the transfer of the 3 suspects was based on a commitment order issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, who is presiding over the case.

Malinao added that the suspects were briefed on their transfer. He admitted that the suspects were not familiar with the legal process, and that he had advised the families of the suspects to see a lawyer.

Out of the 134 suspects with warrants of arrest for alleged involvement in the gruesome massacre, 131 suspects remain at large.