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TUESDAY JANUARY 7, 2O2O
Be wary of Ampatuan health plea, solon asks court
By Maricel V. Cruz
A LEGISLATOR, whose wife was
among those killed in th€ Ampatuan
Massacre in2009, on Monday expressed
doubts that Datu Zaldy Ampatuan who
is among those convicted for the mass
killing is really in need of medical at-
tention that requires coninement in the
prison's infirmary.
Rep. Esmael Magundadatu of Ma-
guindanao cautioned the Regional Trial
Court in Quezon City to be wary ofAm-
patuan's rcquest for hansfer to the New
Bilibid Prison lnfirmarv because ol his
alleged need for therapy, rehabilitition
and special medications as prescribed
by his physicians.
h an urgent motion dated Dec. 23,
2019, Ampatuan, through his lawye1 said
that he needed to undergo therapy and
rchabilitation to continue with his daily
meriication.
Mangudadau app€aled to the coud to
enswe that dle allegedly aiting Ampatuan
"be kept within the confnes ofthe NBP in-
firmary as he fZaldy] along with his four
Ampatuan kin meted out life imprison-
ment without the possibilily of parcle
from tbeir arimes that athacted worldwide
uproar and condemnation."
"If he is as sick as he and his lawyen
claimed him to bc. then we leave it up lor
the NBP doctors and experts to detemine
it. I am not against him seeking medical
assistance as long as it is<lonqwithin the
con-fines of the \tsP infimary in Muntin-
htpa. Hindi po sa Makati Medical Center
o sa ano pa mang mamahalin at priba-
dong hospital,vhere is allowed to stay
comfortably inside a hospital suite,'" Man-
gudadatu added.
Mangudadatu was not swprised with
Ampatuan's request.
"My l0-year court battle with this
family showed me how devious and cal-
culating they are. Hindi malayong isip-
in nila ang optio\ na tumakas. Kapag
nang ti iyon, magiging napakahirap
na para sa mga pulis na mahuli silang
\ r,Aqs - Ab,'
zal/," said Mangudadatu.
He also questioned why the Urgent
Motion to Transfer filed by Zaldy's law-
yer on Dec. 23 was made public only on
Jali. 2.
"That alone raises suspicion. I can
only hope that I am wrong for my sake
and for the sake ofthe famili€s who lost
their loved ones in lhe massacre."
Pdor -to sentencing last Dec. 19,
2019, Zaldy was confined for more
than 40 days at the Makati Medical
Center but Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes
ordered his rctum to the Quezon City
Jail Annex, where the arested accused
in the massacre were detained, based on
his medical abshact-di scharge summary
stating that he was already "in stable
condition, ambulatory and that his lower
extremities are shong."
The coun also found out that there is
no longer a need for Zaldy Lo remain in
the hospital then as the procedure during
rehabilitalion session can be done to him
as an outpatielt.