Court OKs hospital checkup for massacre suspect

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has allowed a suspect in the multiple murder case to undergo a checkup at a private hospital for a painful genital cyst.

In a two-page order, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes allowed Police Officer 3 Alex Daquilos to be brought back to the Rizal Medical Center, where he also underwent an examination in March.

At the time, Daquilos complained that he is suffering from varicocoele bilateral, an illness described as a prostate disorder of the spermatic cord that causes a soft and painful swelling.

In his latest motion, Daquilos – through lawyer Gennodin Nilong – submitted a medical certificate dated May 15 and signed by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology medical officer Senior Inspector Jaime Claveria.

Claveria said that the suspect has an “epidydimal cyst” and needs another checkup at the hospital.

Citing the earlier instance in which the prosecution panel did not object to the request of the suspect to be brought out of his detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, the judge allowed him to be brought to the Rizal Medical Center.

Solis-Reyes ordered the jail warden of the Quezon City-Jail Annex to comply with a 2009 memorandum that sets guidelines in handling inmates confined in hospitals.

She also directed the accused to immediately submit a copy of the check-up result to the court.

Daquilos is among the initial 197 suspects charged for the Nov. 23, 2009 incident, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners. A total of 108 suspects have been arrested, but charges against three have been dropped.