CALAMBA CITY, Philippines?The government of Sta. Rosa City is lobbying to prevent the suggested transfer of members of the Ampatuan clan to a police training facility in the city, its information officer said on Saturday.

Senator Jose ?Jinggoy? Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel suggested the detention of the Ampatuans in Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa City.

The Ampatuans are among the suspects in the massacre of 57 people, including journalists, in the province of Maguindanao last November 23.

?Our position on that is we really hope they won't (bring them here). Camp Crame remains the best option,? Sta. Rosa information officer Aries Zapanta said in a phone interview.

Fort Sto. Domingo is a police training facility under the PNP Special Action Force.

Nur Misuari and former President Joseph Estrada were once detained in the facility.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police regional director, in a text message, also welcomed the suggestion.

But Zapanta said it was not only security they were worried about but also the negative effects it might have on the city?s reputation.

"We are promoting the city as the industrial and commercial hub of Calabarzon [but the transfer of the Ampatuans] might create a notion that we are a jail for high-profile suspects,? he said.

He said Fort Sto. Domingo has already been declared a national historical site and holding the Ampatuans there ?may taint the efforts to establish it as a tourism and cultural destination.?

?Besides, Fort Sto. Domingo will be inconvenient since, as we understand it, the hearings will be in Quezon City,? Zapanta added.

He said business groups in Sta Rosa might also oppose the transfer.