Anwar Ampatuan seeks longer stay at PGH

MANILA, Philippines—An accused in the Maguindanao massacre has asked a Quezon City court to allow him stay longer in the hospital until the shrapnel lodged in his body due to a recent bomb explosion are all removed.

Datu Anwar Ipi Ampatuan Jr. sought for an extension of his confinement at the Philippine General Hospital while he is recovering from his injuries.

He said he suffers from continued paralysis as a result of metallic fragments still embedded in his body.

The accused filed his appeal through his counsel, lawyer Paris Real on Monday morning.

Ampatuan, a grandson and co-accused of Andal Ampatuan Sr. , is among the 196 charged for the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, which left at least 57 civilians dead.

Ampatuan was arrested on March 25 at a Maguindanao hospital where he was being treated for blast injuries. He was later flown to Manila upon the orders of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. He is under hospital arrest at the PGH in Manila.

In his three-page motion, Ampatuan said not all of the metallic fragments from the bomb blast have been removed from his body. This, he added, is causing his continued paralysis.

“Worse, Datu Ipi has a still gaping wound as big as a fist at his back as a result of said bombing incident,” the motion added.

According to the accused, he was told by a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology deputy warden that he is set to be transferred to the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa.

He was told of his impending transfer last week.

“Such advice is uncalled for and contrary to the orders of the court especially that Datu Ipi has not yet fully recovered from his serious injuries,” the pleading added.

The accused asked to be allowed to stay at the PGH until he is operated on and has fully recovered from his injuries.