Site of the Maguindanao massacre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—An accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre has asked a Quezon City court to allow him to be treated or even confined at a government hospital for pain caused by complications from a previous surgery.
Abedin Alamada, a former councilor in the Maguindanao town of Datu Unsay who went by the alias “Kumander Bedi” while he headed the militia group Civilian Volunteer Organization, asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 221 to allow him to be treated at the Philippine General Hospital and, if necessary, to stay at the medical facility until he has fully recovered.
Alamada is among 195 people charged with 58 counts of murder in connection with the November 23, 2009 slaughter in Maguindanao of 58 persons, 32 of them journalists.
In an urgent motion filed Monday by lawyer Michael Uy in Alamada’s behalf, the defense counsel said that the accused had his right kidney surgically removed and had a tube inserted in his body sometime in 2006.
Uy said that the tube, which is attached to the urethra, was causing Alamada severe pain whenever it moves inside him. “Extreme pain is also felt by accused (Alamada) whenever he urinates and blood also accompanies his urine,” the lawyer added.
“Accused now wants the aforesaid tube inside him to be removed, or if not, medical procedure be done to alleviate his suffering,” Uy said, asking Judge Reyes to allow his client to undergo a complete medical examination and treatment at the PGH and “If necessary, that he be allowed to stay therein until he has fully recuperated.”
Alamada, who carried a P250,000 bounty for his capture, was arrested by South Cotabato policemen in November last year in the municipality of Surallah.
He is accused of direct involvement in the 2009 Maguindanao carnage being the head of the CVO in Datu Unsay town. The massacre was allegedly perpetrated by some 180 militiamen, policemen and members of the Ampatuan clan.