‘Zaldy Ampatuan lost consciousness, has diabetes’

MANILA, Philippines – Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the prime suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, lost consciousness before he was rushed to the hospital earlier this week.

Documents submitted to the Quezon City court handling the multiple murder case showed that Ampatuan is also suffering from Type 2 diabetes, in addition to his recurring heart ailment. 

Lt. Col. Jhon Montero, warden of the Quezon City jail annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig where Ampatuan is being held, said the suspect was rushed to the Taguig- Pateros District Hospital on Monday following an examination conducted by the nurse on duty at the detention facility.

Montero said aside from losing consciousness, Ampatuan also suffered from weakness on the left side of the body and slurred speech.

The former governor was later transferred to the Makati Medical Center, where he remains confined at its cardiovascular intensive care unit, according to Montero.

Ampatuan underwent various medical tests, including a CT scan.

He is in stable condition based on the latest medical bulletin released by his doctors, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesman Maj. Xavier Solda said on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Ampatuan was brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital for his regular checkup, with his physician prescribing him various medicines for his cardiac dysrhythmia, commonly known as irregular heartbeat.

He had been allowed to undergo a medical examination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

Ampatuan is among the 197 suspects tagged in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media workers.