Court defers arraignment on Andal Ampatuan Sr. to March 26

MANILA, Philippines – The arraignment of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. on charges of electoral sabotage has been postponed anew by the Pasay regional trial court on Monday.

A Radyo Inquirer 990AM report said that the Pasay RTC has deferred the Ampatuan patriarch’s arraignment after receiving word from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology director Rosendo Dial that Ampatuan was still confined at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the AFP Medical Center V. Luna General Hospital (AFPMC) in Quezon City.

It said that lawyers of both parties have agreed to reset Ampatuan’s arraignment to March 26.

The schedule coincides with the arraignment of former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., who also faces charges of electoral sabotage.

Dial said that he has sent a medical abstract on Ampatuan’s condition to Pasay RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas.

Ampatuan, one of the principal accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, was rushed to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital on March 9 after vomiting blood.

He was later moved to AFPMC and was said to be suffering from diabetes, a liver disorder, pneumonia and a heart ailment.

The BJMP director could not determine when Ampatuan would be discharged from the government hospital but told Radyo Inquirer 990AM that the former governor was slowly recovering from his illness.

For more of the reports, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.