PGH chief nixes immediate confinement for Andal Sr.

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has refused to recommend the immediate hospital confinement of Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Sr., who asked the court for hospital arrest because of his health condition.

In a letter to Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes dated June 10, PGH director Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo said: “It is our view that based on said findings and evaluation, there is at the moment no immediate need for hospital confinement of Andal Ampatuan Sr.”

Domingo attached the findings and recommendations of PGH pulmonary critical specialist Dr. Jubert Benedicto, who examined Ampatuan Sr. on June 8.

According to Benedicto, Ampatuan Sr. manifested impressions of “systolic hypertension” and suspected “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)” although it is considered stable at the moment.

Domingo, based on Benedicto’s findings, told the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 that further tests be done on Ampatuan Sr. to assess his medical condition.

Benedicto said Ampatuan Sr. can be maintained on regular maintenance bronchodilators – drugs to keep his airways open – for his COPD, as well as calamine lotion for the suspect’s skin condition and antihistamine for itch relief.

Ampatuan Sr., after being diagnosed with COPD by a private doctor, asked to be “admitted in a tertiary hospital with complete medical facilities and that in the interim… be kept in an air-conditioned room to avoid exacerbation (of his condition).”

The court ordered the examination by PGH doctors to determine whether to grant the suspect’s plea.