MANILA - The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 has denied the request of Anwar Ampatuan Jr. to bring a portable air-conditioner in his detention cell.

Ampatuan is detained at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City for murder in connection with the massacre of 58 people, including 32 journalists, in Maguindanao last November 23, 2009.

On May 18, Ampatuan asked the court to allow him to use an air-conditioner because he was suffering from shortness of breath and skin allergies.

His request was denied on April 25, but he filed a motion for reconsideration seeking the court's reversal of its earlier ruling.

In an order, the QC RTC Branch 221 upheld the denial of Ampatuan's request, saying that no medical certificate was presented and no new arguments were given in his motion for reconsideration.