By JOSEPH HOLANDES UBALDE
Interaksyon.com
JOSIE was startled when she accompanied her husband Efren at the Philippine Heart Center Emergency building early Thursday morning.
Efren had suffered a heart attack in their home in Caloocan just before dawn and needed immediate medical attention. But the way to the emergency room was partly blocked by packs of reporters, photographers and soldiers armed with high-powered guns.
The media too were quite intimidating to look at with their overhead lights and tripod cameras all facing the emergency room entrance.
She waited outside the emergency room upon the doctor’s orders and eyed the commotion that was happening. She approached a boy who had just put out a cigarette he sneaked in and asked what the fuss what about.
The boy told her fragments of the story he himself had just overheard in the hospital. But one thing caught Josie’s attention the most: one of those allegedly behind the killing of 58 people in Maguindanao two years ago is confined at the hospital.
“Sinabi ko lang sa sarili ko, ‘Masarap pala ang buhay ng isang notorious na kriminal,'” she said, shaking her head.
Just outside the coffee shop near the hospital entrance, Martin Villanueva, 72, is waiting for his 16-year-old grandchild to come out from the hospital after a week of confinement.
He just heard from his son-in-law yesterday how Zaldy was whisked into the hospital building accompanied by his lawyers and some armed men. Martin has his res”ervations about the presence of what he calls as “the murderer.”
“Nakakabwisit kaya yun. Marami siyang pinatay na tao pero buhay pa rin siya ngayon?” Martin said. “Dapat ang kasama niya ordinaryong preso hindi mga simpleng tao. ”
On Thursday morning, Zaldy’s lawyers sent to the court a written letter from the Maguindanao Massacre prime suspect’s doctor recommending that the patient stay for a longer time at the hospital. Dr. Danny Kuizon said the 43-year-old diabetic still needs to undergo several tests to check if his heart can still function well.
“His heart is failing,” he told the throng of reporters on Wednesday night.
Despite a doctor’s recommendation for Zaldy’s confinement, the head of the PHC said they will only allow the former governor to stay “as long as necessary.”
“If the patient doesn’t need to be confined then he needs to be released immediately because the other patients will need it ( hospital room),” Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco said.
But a doctor, who passed by the hospital’s emergency room, said if he had it his way, he wouldn’t even want to see Zaldy’s shadow in their vicinity.
“Why should we admit him, we know he’s guilty,” the doctor, who refused to be identified said.
But his wish might come soon. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology are set to take Zaldy out of the hospital early Thursday evening despite the strong opposition of his doctor. (But a 7 pm order from Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes extended Zaldy’s stay till 12 nn Friday. Zaldy is now back at the Bicutan jail facility on Friday afternoon).
“Ayokong maabutan yun,” said Daisy, who is waiting for her son from the hospital exit. “Mamaya magkagulo diyan madamay kami.”
She said the former ARMM governor should have just opted to stay at a more private facility, where reporters and soldiers armed with cameras and guns would not follow. “Siyempre nakakanerbyos lahat ng makikita mo may kamera, may baril. Parang anong nangyayari?”
After a few minutes Daisy’s son was finally wheeled out of the hospital building. He was wearing smile upon seeing his mother but that quickly changed when he saw what was waiting for him outside the glass walls.
As the light from one of the camera blinds his eyes, he asks “What’s happening here?”