State prosecutors ask court to order Zaldy Ampatuan’s return to jail

MANILA, Philippines — State prosecutors have asked a Quezon City court to order the return of Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the accused in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre case, to jail.

In a motion to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 dated November 22, the prosecutors asked the court to “order and direct” Ampatuan’s return to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Ampatuan remains at the Makati Medical Center after suffering a stroke in October.

In a letter dated November 19, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Ampatuan is still undergoing physical and occupational therapy.

“The prosecution panel is not unmindful of the medical condition of PDL (Person Deprived of Liberty)  Zaldy Ampatuan. Unfortunately, it is apprehensive that his alleged hospital confinement under the cloak of being still undergoing continuous physical and occupational therapy may provide hum all the opportunity for a convenient escape,” the prosecutors said.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes has until December 20 to decide on the case.

“It cannot be gainsaid that the promulgation of judgment on these cases is forthcoming with the prosecution’s strong belief of conviction for accused Zaldy Ampatuan. The prosecution panel, therefore, is of the view that accused Zaldy Ampatuan would do any last-ditch move towards his liberty, be it resorting to his act of taking flight,” the prosecutors said.

Further, the prosecutors said “there is no longer any need” for Ampatuan to remain at the Makati Medical Center as the therapy sessions could be done in the detention facility.

“In the alternative, should accuse Zaldy’s retention at the Makati Med be necessary, that security personnel guarding him be augmented to ensure that he can never take flight,” they said.

“In deference to this Honorable Court, it should now stop extending so much grace, sympathy or concern to accused Zaldy Ampatuan but has to act firmly and with an iron hand to prevent any untoward contingency while its decision is still underway,” they added.

On November 23, 2009, 58 individuals—including 32 journalists—were massacred while on their way to the Commission of Elections office for the filing of a certificate of candidacy of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu for the Maguindanao governor post.

The attack has been dubbed as the worst single attack on journalists.