Ampatuan brothers get court nod to visit ailing dad

AS a sign of respect to Muslim tradition, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 has also allowed brothers brothers Andal Ampatuan Jr and Rizaldy “Zaldy” Ampatuan to be with their ailing father’s side, patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr.

In a joint order issued late Wednesday by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, the brothers were also given two hours to be with their father who has fallen into a coma after suffering a heart attack late Monday evening.

Andal Sr. is currently confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

The court admitted that while there is no law allowing such visit, its order was based on humanitarian consideration and Muslim tradition.

“Admittedly, there’s no law which allows an accused detainee  to visit an ailing family member. In fact, it is not even one of those circumstances listed under the revised Bureau of Jail Management and Penology manual,” said the court.

“But taking into consideration that Andal Ampatuan Sr is currently in a very critical condition as shown [in the medical certificate]… as well as the Muslim tradition, [and] for humanitarian consideration, the court hereby resolves to grant the request,” the court said.

A relative of Andal Sr. in open court said Wednesday that Muslim tradition dictates that family members should be present when a person is approaching death.

Both Zaldy and Andal Jr. previously visited their father. Zaldy visited his father last July 2 after undergoing a myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) at the Philippine Heart Center, near NKTI while Andal Jr. visited his father last July 14.

Earlier, Datu Anwar “Ipi” Ampatuan Sr., son, Datu Anwar Ampatuan Jr., grandson, and Akmad “Tatu” Ampatuan, nephew, were given two-hour stay at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) where Andal Sr. is confined.

According to the NKTI, Andal Sr. only has months to live because his liver cancer is already at an advanced stage.