Defense lawyers seek continued confinement for Andal Sr.

MANILA, Philippines—The legal counsel of Andal Ampatuan Sr., patriarch of the clan accused of masterminding the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, has formally asked a Quezon City court to allow his continued confinement at a military hospital in Quezon City.

Ampatuan’s lawyers said Ampatuan is now connected to a respirator which requires their client’s continued stay at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center (formerly V. Luna Hospital).

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 has ordered the defense to submit a medical abstract on Ampatuan, who has been staying at the hospital since Friday.

Defense lawyer Gregorio Narvasa also asked the court to allow a private doctor to examine Ampatuan for a second opinion.

In a medical certificate dated March 11 and presented in court Monday, Dr. Estrellita Bitong of the AFP Medical Center said Ampatuan’s present condition “still requires hospital confinement.”

The certificate said the doctors’ “working impression” of the patient’s condition were “pneumonia, community acquired, high risk”; acute respiratory failure secondary to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; “chronic alcoholic liver disease.”

The 70-year-old Ampatuan, who is detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, was initially brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital last Friday noon after he vomited blood.

He was transferred to the AFP Medical Center later that day.

The former governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, along with his two sons, is among the 196 charged with multiple murder for the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In Monday’s hearing, the prosecution panel and the patriarch’s lawyers engaged in a heated argument over his confinement.

Private prosecutor Harry Roque pointed out that while Ampatuan’s lawyers filed a motion asking permission for his hospital visit, he was rushed to the military hospital without a court order.

Roque added that they wanted to be sure that Ampatuan’s hospitalization was really necessary.

The prosecution also asked Narvasa if Ampatuan was in stable condition but Narvasa said only a doctor could answer the question.

Reyes also ordered the military hospital to allow the lawyers of Ampatuan access to their client after they had difficulty checking on him during the weekend.

Director Rosendo Dial of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology earlier said the incident was a matter of life and death.

An initial medical abstract showed Ampatuan’s blood pressure dropped to 70/50 when he was first brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital last Friday. The doctors there recommended that the accused be brought to a tertiary hospital as they didn’t have enough facilities to treat him.

Retired BJMP doctor Claro Munding, who was called by the BJMP to check on Ampatuan, said he agreed with the recommendation of the doctors at the district hospital.

Munding said the decision to move Ampatuan from Taguig City to the military hospital in Quezon City was prompted by the need to secure the accused.

Meanwhile, the court directed Ampatuan’s attending physician to “immediately submit” his medical abstract and other records.

The prosecution will have 24 hours to comment on the defense’s appeal for their client’s confinement once the court receives the documents.