Andal Ampatuan Sr. must stay in hospital, his lawyer says

Due to the reported problem in his health condition, it will be better for Andal Ampatuan Sr. to stay in a hospital than be under the custody of the military, the lawyer of the embattled Maguindanao governor said on Saturday. "Sa tingin ko po, paramount consideration ang kalusugan niya. Kailangan pong manatili siya sa Davao Doctor's Hospital (I think his health is of paramount consideration. He has to stay at the Davao Doctor's Hospital)," said Ampatuan's lawyer in an interview with a television station on Saturday. The lawyer did not identify himself during the interview, claiming he was receiving threats to his life.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Ampatuan, who, along with his sons, is being linked to the November 23 massacre of 57 people, was rushed to the said hospital Saturday morning after he reportedly lost consciousness and suffered from high blood pressure. The governor was earlier placed under the custody of the military after a state of martial law was declared in Maguindanao Saturday morning. Ampatuan is ready to surrender once a warrant of arrest is issued to him, according to the patriarch's lawyer. “Kung mayroon pong arrest warrant, ibibigay po namin. Ibibigay po niya sarili niya (If there is an arrest warrant, we will surrender him. He will turn himself over.)," he said. - ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV