Ampatuan admitted at military hospital without court order

MANILA, Philippines—Former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., a principal suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, was admitted for check-up and observation at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (formerly V. Luna Hospital) in Quezon City Friday afternoon even without a court order, the spokesman of the military hospital said.

The military hospital has not yet decided whether to confine Ampatuan.

“Right now his condition is being observed to rule out any sickness or illness. He’s being checked. But he’ll stay longer for observation,” Cmdr. Jerome Ochoco, AFP Medical Center public affairs office chief, said in a phone interview.

“We have not settled whether he will be confined. We’re doing some tests right now,” he added.

Ochoco said they have not received any court order on Ampatuan’s transfer.

He explained that a doctor from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology who accompanied Ampatuan to the AFP Medical Center was the one who decided to transfer the murder suspect.

“He came from St. Luke’s (Hospital). We were told that while in his cell, he (Ampatuan) spat out blood. The doctor wants to check him,” Ochoco said, referring to the upscale private hospital in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The BJMP doctor and guards brought in Ampatuan to the AFP Medical Center at 4:30 p.m.

In an earlier report, staff at a Quezon City court said they were informed by jail officials that Ampatuan was rushed to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital Friday noon.

In another report, Senior Insp. John Conrad Basilio, warden of the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, said Ampatuan left the Taguig Pateros District Hospital at around 2:45 p.m. for transfer to the AFP Medical Center.

Ochoco could not say how long Ampatuan will stay at the hospital. When asked, he said it was possible for Ampatuan to stay for “24 hours.”