Zaldy's confinement PHL Heart Center draws mixed reactions

Excitement, sympathy and even anxiety, prevailed at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) following the news that murder suspect Rizaldy Ampatuan will be confined at the Quezon City medical facility. Jocelyn Rebustes, a long-time employee of the Philippine Tariff Commission Office housed on the fifth floor of the PHC, said she saw nothing wrong in having Zaldy confined there. "Eh kung hindi talaga maganda ang kalagayan niya, okay lang naman. I heard he even had to undergo angioplasty," Rebustes told GMA News Online on Thursday. Zaldy was brought to the PHC after being allowed by court to be examined as an outpatient for his diabetes and coronary disease. The suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor ended up staying at the hospital for the night, drawing criticisms from the families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre who were apprehensive that his stay might turn into a hospital arrest. They also said Zaldy was a "flight risk." But Rebustes said she does not feel threatened by the presence at the PHC of a high-profile murder suspect like Zaldy. Rebustes said it was the first time she has seen so many armed security personnel deployed around the hospital, but said she did not mind it. "Pareho pa rin naman ang security. Dalawang araw ko na rin inoobserbahan pero wala namang paghihigpit," she said. Jail guards from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology could be seen roaming PHC grounds since Wednesday afternoon when Zaldy was brought in from the Quezon City Jail Annex inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he was being detained with other Maguindanao massacre suspects. Unlike Rebustes however, some people who have relatives confined at the PHC admitted being anxious over security threats with Zaldy being around. "Nakatatakot. Sana nga hindi diyan kasi maraming pasyente [dito]. Kahit ako nga natakot eh," said a woman interviewed by GMA News' Jamie Santos on 24 Oras. While some people were uneasy with having Zaldy in the same building as their confined loved ones, others surprisingly said they were anticipating the suspended governor's visit to the PHC. "Nung marinig ko po iyong balitang pupunta po siya dito, excited din po akong pumunta dito. Sabi ko dalian natin para makita natin si Governor Zaldy Ampatuan," admitted another woman also interviewed in 24 Oras report. — LBG, GMA News