Suspended ARMM governor requests medical check-up
SUSPENDED AUTONOMOUS Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan asked the court last 5 July, 2011 to allow him to undergo a medical examination in a private hospital. The request came six days after a member of the Andal Ampatuan Sr. household staff testified that Andal Sr. was present at the meeting during which the November 23, 2009 massacre of 58 men and women including 32 journalists was planned.
Zaldy, through his legal counsel Redemberto Villanueva, filed a “Very Urgent Motion for Medical Examination” before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) stating that they “want him (Zaldy) to undergo an examination due to his fluctuating blood pressure and sugar level brought about perhaps by the changing weather.” The five-page motion stated that the suspended governor prefers to be examined and confined at St. Luke’s Global City.
A clinical summary allegedly written by a Reynaldo Romero, M.D. claims that the governor is suffering from “Type 2 Diabetes Poorly Controlled with Possible Retinopathy and Nephropathy.”
Zaldy cited Article 10 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution which both pertain to the treatment of detainees/accused.
On May 20, the court granted Ampatuan and his father permission to undergo medical checkups while behind bars. On June 16, the court also issued a waiver of appearance for Ampatuan Sr , which allows the patriarch to not be present during court proceedings unless it is required.
Eyewitnesses identify Ampatuans, CVO
On 29 June 2011, the prosecution re-called Lakmodin Saliao, a former member of the household staff of the Ampatuans, to the witness stand. Saliao was an aide of Ampatuan Sr.
Saliao pointed to Sajid Islam and Andal Sr. when asked to identify who were present at the meeting on Nov. 19 and 22, 2009 where the Ampatuans allegedly planned the massacre.
Meanwhile, Abubakar Abdul Esmail, another eyewitness to the case, identified a civilian volunteer organization member as being present at the crime scene. Esmail pointed to Moaktar Daud last 6 July 2011.
Two other police officers testify
Police Supt. OSCAR NANTES, the former acting chief of the personnel division of the ARMM Philippine National Police Regional Office, and Police Supt. Nelson Quevedo took the witness stand last 7 and 6 July 2011. The court is currently hearing the petitions for bail filed by over 30 accused persons including Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Sajid Islam.
Nantes testified on who were the members of the 1507th and 1508th Regional Mobile Groups (RMGs) under PRO ARMM. Several members of the two RMGs are accused in the case. He also presented the special orders issued by the PNP on November 24, 26, 27, 30 and December 1, 2009 pertaining to the termination of designation and restrictive custody of several police officers who had “jurisdiction” over the site of the November 23, 2009 Massacre including those assigned to the municipal police office of Ampatuan town.
The defense lawyers however questioned the power of the police regional office to issue orders of restrictive custody without “summary hearing or due notice.” They cited Republic Act (RA) No. 6975 Sec. 41 b which states that “In dealing with minor offenses involving internal discipline found to have been committed by any regular member of their respective commands, the duly designated supervisors and equivalent officers of the PNP shall, after due notice and summary hearing, exercise disciplinary powers…”
The prosecution, meanwhile, asked Quevedo to identify the affidavits issued by several police officers after the 23 November 2009 incident.
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