Manila hospitalization sought for Ampatuan grandson

MANILA, Philippines—Lawyers are asking a Quezon City court to order the transfer of Andal Ampatuan Sr.’s grandson to a Metro Manila hospital as a Davao hospital would not admit him despite a court order.

In separate motions, the prosecution and the defense sought the confinement of Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr. in a government hospital here though for slightly different reasons.

The manifestations were received on Thursday and Friday by the staff of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

Anwar is one of the 196 persons charged with multiple murder in connection with the massacre of 57 people, mostly journalists, in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. His grandfather, two uncles and several other relatives are among the principal accused.

According to the return of an arrest warrant submitted to the court, Anwar was arrested on March 25 at a Maguindanao hospital where he was being treated for blast injuries sustained reportedly while he was on his way to surrender to the authorities.

On Thursday, the prosecution led by deputy regional state prosecutor Peter Medalle said it was joining the arresting police unit’s request that Anwar be brought to Metro Manila.

Both the local Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the prosecution cited security reasons in seeking for the accused’s transfer to a government hospital here.

Paris Real, Anwar’s lawyer, asked that his client to be moved to Metro Manila in the light of a Davao private hospital’s refusal to admit him despite a court order.

In a three-page manifestation submitted Friday morning, Real cited the court’s directive dated March 29 for the accused to be brought to the Davao Doctors’ Hospital “for his further medical evaluation and/or surgery.”

The defense said it was  “joining the prosecution” in its bid to have the accused brought to a Metro Manila hospital “so Datu Ipi can undergo his very much delayed operation.”

Real cited the need to remove shrapnel and other foreign objects from Datu Anwar’s body sustained in an explosion in Mamasapano town.

“Datu Ipi requests that he be immediately flown… to the Philippine General Hospital or any other government hospital in Metro Manila which has neurosurgeons and sufficient medical facilities,” the manifestation read.

Anwar is now confined  at the Notre Dame Hospital in Cotabato City.

The court issued the order after noting the prosecution’s manifestation for Anwar’s transfer to Metro Manila.

Real, in his pleading, reported to the court that the Davao Doctors’ Hospital, a private institution, did not admit his client despite the court order for his admission there.

This came as a “great surprise” to them as the lawyer noted that the move was in “total contradiction” to the hospital’s motto of “We Care for Life.”

In a letter, DDH corporate secretary Dr. Daniel dela Paz cited its previous experience with Datu Andal Sr. for its decision not to admit Datu Anwar.

It said “there is hesitation from our medical staff to admit the patient” and referred him to the Southern Philippines Medical Center which is better suited to treat him.