Zaldy Ampatuan seeks 'hospital arrest'

MANILA, Philippines - Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan, claiming he has ailments such as diabetes mellitus and asthma, is asking a court hearing the murder charges against him to allow him to be admitted to a hospital facility.

His lawyer, Redemberto Villanueva, filed an “urgent motion for medical examination” before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 on April 30.

“He is presently suffering from shortness of breath, significant weight loss, insomnia, body pains and bouts of depression. Such is due to complications and necessary incident of the already existing ailments of Zaldy Ampatuan, which are diabetes mellitus and asthma,” the motion stated.

Villanueva claimed that “harsh prison conditions and the prevalent heat wave” has aggravated the effects of these ailments.

“Day by day, his well-being is being made severe, thereby causing danger to his very life… The attendant stress exacerbated Zaldy Ampatuan’s already fragile health. Humbly submitted, the very health and well-being of Zaldy Ampatuan hangs in the balance,” the motion said.

According to Villanueva, the medical exam should be done immediately and if it shows he needs to be confined in a medical institution, they will also ask the court to issue an order for Ampatuan’s transfer to such a medical facility.

Zaldy Ampatuan is among the 196 accused, including Andal Ampatuan Sr., who were included in the charge sheet in the case earlier filed against Andal Ampatuan Jr. in connection with the “Maguindanao massacre.”

However, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra recently overturned the resolution of the panel of state prosecutors indicting Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan, and absolved the two. But the decision drew flak from the families of the victims, some of whom even called for his resignation. Agra is reviewing his own order and is reportedly set to issue a new order.