Court orders Andal Sr. checkup by a PGH doctor

MANILA — Prosecution and defense lawyers on Thursday agreed to have Andal Ampatuan Sr. be examined by a doctor from the Philippine General Hospital to determine if the murder suspect needs longer hospital confinement.

Defense lawyers Sigfrid Fortun and Gregorio Narvasa agreed with the motion of private prosecutors Harry Roque and Nena Santos to have an independent doctor from the PGH to check on Andal Sr., who is presently confined at the AFP Medical Center.

Andal Sr. is supposed to face a Pasay City court today ( Thursday) for his scheduled arraignment in another case stemming from his alleged involvement in the massive poll fraud in 2010.

But Fortun said his client would be unable to attend the arraignment. Fortun said that the last time he saw his client, the latter was unable to speak and could only nod to him.

Narvasa also said that as of Tuesday night, doctors described Andal Sr.’s medical condition as “guarded.”

Andal Sr. is facing murder charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Last week, Andal Sr. was brought to the AFP Medical Center after he vomited blood. His lawyers are asking for his continuous confinement and his transfer to the Philippine Heart Center, saying the military hospital may not have the adequate facilities to attend to his medical needs.

The murder suspect has been found to be suffering from pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and chronic liver disease, among others.

Santos said the timing of Andal’s motion for hospital confinement was “suspect”, citing the accused’s scheduled court appearance for the electoral sabotage case.

Roque also revealed that they have shown the medical records submitted by the AFP Medical Center to a doctor and the latter expressed doubts on the need for Andal’s confinement. The doctor also suggested that a doctor from PGH be directed to check on Andal Sr.

Fortun did not object to the prosecution’s motion.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-reyes, who is hearing the murder case, directed Ma. Bella Siasoco, chief of the pulmonology section of the PGH, to conduct the examination.

Meanwhile, the proccedings on Thursday were temporarily suspended following an argument between Peter Medalle, Assistant Regional State Prosecutor and the lead prosecutor, and defense lawyer Andres Manuel.

Manuel called the court’s attention to what he said was an “underhanded tactic” employed by Medalle in talking to some of the accused without the consent of the defense lawyers.