Ampatuan Sr. has no life-threatening illness—doctor

MANILA, Philippines—Andal Ampatuan Sr., suspected mastermind of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, has no life threatening illness and can go back to his detention cell, a government doctor said.

The former Maguindanao governor’s pulmonary status is “not critical, life-threatening, and (he) is ready for weaning from mechanical ventilator,” Dr. Ma. Bella Siasoco, head of the pulmonary section of the Philippine General Hospital, stated in a report submitted on Friday to Judge Jocelyn Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch.

“Once he (Ampatuan) is weaned from the ventilator he may be released,” the doctor added.

Ampatuan, who is currently confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (formerly V. Luna hospital)  is detained with other family members at a special maximum security jail at the national police headquarters, Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. They are charged with the mass murder of at least 57 persons in Maguindanao in 2009, among them over 30 journalists.

Siasoco stated in her report that she conducted the medical examination on Ampatuan in his room at the AFP Medical Center on March 15 at 6 p.m.

She noted that Ampatuan was lucid and awake when she conducted the examination.

“I found him conscious, able to follow verbal commands and in bed with his head elevated,” she added.

Ampatuan was first brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital on Friday last week, after he vomited blood.

He was then transferred to the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.