By Chito Chavez
Former Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan has requested a Quezon City court for his transfer from the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) as soon as possible after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
Zaldy Ampatuan (MANILA BULLETIN)
In an extremely urgent ex parte motion for transfer to Philippine Heart Center filed before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of QC Regional Trial Court Branch 221, Ampatuan through his legal counsels, Rachel Jane Abelinde and Ralbert John Neil Tibayan, said that the PHC not only has a complete set of equipment for tests that the accused might need to undergo but also records of his confinement in the past years.
In a three-page motion, Ampatuan said that on June 24, he suffered shortness of breath, dizziness, and increase in blood pressure prompting Dr. Henry Fabro, roving medical officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), to examine him.
After being examined, Ampatuan was taken to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital where he was found to be suffering from “hypoglycemia secondary to oral hypoglycemic agents xxx congestive heart failure,” and was recommended for admission.
Ampatuan's lawyers said, “the accused was constrained to request for his transfer to PHC to undergo all other necessary medical and laboratory examinations, other procedure deemed necessary, and general recuperation.”
The accused lawyers added that they already communicated and made arrangements with Dr. Danilo Kuizon, a cardiologist at PHC, for Ampatuan's possible admission.
“Zaldy, through the undersigned shall strictly comply with all the logistic, security and other administrative measures that this Honorable Court might impose for the purpose of facilitating and supervising the conduct of the transfer,” the motion stated.
The former ARMM governor, his brother principal accused Andal Ampatuan Jr., and more than a hundred accused are now awaiting the decision on the 58 counts of murder case filed against them in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre involving the killing of 58 people including 32 members of the media.