Palace seeks BJMP explanation over Zaldy's hospital stay

(Updated 4:12 p.m.) The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is now in hot water for not bringing back Maguindanao massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan to his detention cell after his medical checkup Wednesday as ordered by the court. At a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who has supervision over the BJMP, will seek the agency’s explanation regarding the matter. "We wanted Zaldy Ampatuan brought back to [Camp Bagong Diwa] last night. Yan po ang klarong dapat ginawa dahil ang utos lang po [ng korte] ay hospital visit," he said. Asked if the concerned BJMP officials will be sanctioned, Lacierda said: "We will ask them to explain first." Lacierda said the Aquino administration will block any request from Ampatuan’s camp for a hospital arrest. Ampatuan, a suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor, was brought to the Philippine Heart Center on Wednesday after he was allowed by the court to have a checkup. The visit, however, became an overnight stay, as doctors said he was showing "signs of heart failure."
Ampatuan, along with his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brothers Andal Jr. and Sajid were the alleged masterminds in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, that left 57 people, including 32 journalists, dead. De Lima: Outpatient is outpatient Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima expressed alarm over the BJMP’s failure to abide by the court order clearly stating that Ampatuan only had an outpatient status. "Dapat strict ang pagpapatupad ng order na outpatient siya [Zaldy]. Outpatient is outpatient. Dapat ibalik kaagad," De Lima told reporters in a separate interview in Quezon City. She said that the massacre suspect should be brought back to his detention cell in Taguig City as soon as possible. "I share the sentiment of the prosecutors and the private complainant na bakit hanggang sa oras na ito nasa ospital pa rin si Zaldy Ampatuan well in fact the order is very clear na out patient lang siya. Diyan kami naalarma," De Lima said. "Hindi talaga pwede ‘yan lalo na hindi pa sya naaarraign and he can be considered a flight risk being a high profile detainee," she added. Liable? BJMP director Rosendo Dial acknowledged that they could be held liable for violating a court decision, but said he did not want to disregard the doctor's advice to keep Zaldy, who was said to be suffering from diabetes and coronary problems, in the hospital. Dial admitted that he was "at a quandary" whether to let Ampatuan stay in hospital or bring him back to the Quezon City Jail Annex inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he is detained. Lacierda said they expected the BJMP to abide by the court order to bring Ampatuan back to Camp Bagong Diwa after his checkup. He added that they see no reason for the suspect to be granted hospital arrest. "Dapat patunayan ng mga Ampatuan na karapat dapat po siyang ma-hospital arrest at kami ay walang nakikitang katwiran kung bakit siya iha-hospital arrest," he said. "We will ask the prosecutors to make sure that we file the strongest possible objection to that motion." Lacierda said Ampatuan's condition can be treated even if he is not confined in a hospital. "We believe that that proper medical attention should be given to him, but we also believe that it can be addressed without him having to be confined in a hospital." — with Andreo Calonzo/KBK/RSJ, GMA News