Hospitalization request of suspect in massacre rejected

MANILA, Philippines–The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 turned down the bid of one of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre case to seek medical treatment at a government hospital outside Camp Bagong Diwa.

Site of the Maguindanao massacre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Instead, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ordered the jail warden of Camp Bagong Diwa to coordinate with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology about roving physicians at BJMP-accredited medical laboratories to conduct the examination.

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, had his right kidney surgically removed and had a tube inserted in his body sometime in 2006.

In his motion, he wants the tube surgically removed or something be done to alleviate pain which occurs every time the tube moves.

He wants to undergo a complete medical examination and treatment at the Philippine General Hospital.

Reyes on Wednesday said the accredited medical laboratory could go to Camp Bagong Diwa to examine Alamada.

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.

Next hearing will be on Aug. 7.