Andal Sr. seeks court permission for medical attention

MANILA, Philippines—Saying he is suffering pain possibly from a prostate ailment, Andal Ampatuan Sr. asked a Quezon City court to let him to be examined by a doctor and seek treatment at a government hospital immediately.

In a two-page urgent motion, the Ampatuan patriarch sought that he be referred to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology physicians for examination of his pained leg and foot.

The accused also asked for permission to seek confinement or treatment at a government hospital or facility should the BJMP doctor order so.

“(Andal Sr.) respectfully moves for his immediate referral to and confinement in any government tertiary hospital as he has been suffering from sharp, continuous pain in his swollen right leg and foot that may be caused by his recurring prostate ailment,” the appeal filed Monday read.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 has yet to act or set a hearing date regarding the motion of the accused for confinement.

Andal Sr. is one of 196 accused facing multiple murder charges for the deaths of 57 people on Nov. 23, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao province.

The elder Ampatuan, along with his son, Andal Jr. as the primary suspect and several others are detained at Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

He appealed for the court to order a “full medical examination to determine the cause and effect appropriate medication to alleviate the pain in his swollen right leg and foot,” the motion read.

Meanwhile, four accused in the grisly massacre are set to be arraigned on Wednesday in a hearing at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Misuari Ampatuan, Tato Sampogao, Taya Bangkulat and Salik Bangkulat will be arraigned Wednesday after they withdrew their earlier appeal for a reinvestigation of the charges against them.