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Another Maguindanao massacre suspect seeks medical checkup


Massacre suspects belonging to the powerful Ampatuan clan are not the only ones complaining about their health while in detention inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Even regular detainees involved in the Nov. 23, 2009 carnage, like SPO1 Elizer Rendaje, are not spared from sickness. Recently, Rendaje, in an urgent motion filed by his lawyer Laguindab Marohombsar, has asked the Quezon City court hearing the massacre trial to allow him to have another medical checkup due to his diabetes. Just like suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Rizaldy “Zaldy" Ampatuan, Rendaje is also diabetic. Zaldy, in a move that got the ire of the prosecution, succeeded in getting himself confined at the Philippine Heart Center for almost three days and two nights to undergo medical examinations for his diabetes and heart problems. The prosecution protested Zaldy’s hospital stay, saying it was in violation of a court order disallowing a hospital confinement. Zaldy’s lawyers eventually secured the approval of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to allow Zaldy to stay one last night at the PHC to undergo an angiogram, which eventually showed he was only suffering from “insignificant coronary artery disease." Rendaje had already undergone an earlier checkup at the Philippine National Police General Hospital inside Camp Crame in Quezon City. “Recently, (however) the condition of the accused worsened, thus, there is a need for him to undergo follow-up medical checkup," said Marohombsar. In an interview with GMA News Online, the lawyer said Rendaje’s condition has gotten so bad in that for a time he had to be confined at Camp Crame for three months. Marohombsar said Rendaje was only brought back to his detention cell in Taguig around March this year. “May time kasi na na-stop insulin niya tapos yung sugat niya sa paa, hindi na naghi-heal," the lawyer said. Rendaje's request will now be up for resolution after the prosecution made no objection to it during Thursday's hearing. — MRT/KBK, GMA News

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