Court OKs Zaldy Ampatuan’s hospital transfer

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has approved the transfer of Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the primary suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC).

In an order dated June 26, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes allowed the transfer of Ampatuan from the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital to the PHC.

The court granted Ampatuan’s urgent motion after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will undergo medical and laboratory examinations at the PHC.

Ampatuan had asked that he be transferred to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, but his request was denied.

State prosecutors argued that as a detainee, he should seek medical treatment only in a government hospital.

Ampatuan was confined at the PHC in November 2016.

He has been diagnosed with cardiovascular infarction, hypoglycemia secondary to oral hypoglycemia agents and congestive heart failure.

The warden of the Quezon City jail annex where Ampatuan is detained was ordered to immediately return Ampatuan to the detention facility following his discharge from the hospital. 

Ampatuan’s lawyers were also ordered to submit to the court the results of his medical tests within 48 hours of receipt.

At least 58 people, including 32 media workers were killed in the Maguindanao massacre on Nov. 23, 2009.