Court allows medical exam for massacre suspect

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has allowed one of the suspects, a police officer, charged with the multiple murders to undergo treatment for kidney stones.

In a two-page order, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes allowed Police Officer 1 Sandy Sabang to be brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.

The judge granted the request for medical treatment upon the recommendation of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology physician Senior Inspector Jaime Claveria, who said Sabang is suffering from nephrolithiasis and must undergo an ultrasound exam at the nearest medical facility.

In her order, Solis-Reyes ordered jail warden Lloyd Gonzaga to bring the suspect to the hospital once the procedure has been scheduled. She reminded the jail warden to immediately return the suspect to the Quezon City Jail-Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after the procedure.

The judge also asked Sabang to submit the results of the exam and treatment to the court and the prosecution panel.