SC may allow live coverage of massacre trial
MANILA, Philippines - There is a possibility that the Supreme Court will allow the live coverage of the Maguindanao massacre case, SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said Sunday.
In an interview with radio dzMM, he said: “May posibilidad… Ang inihain ng [National Union of Journalists of the Philippines] nung Friday ay magandang oportunidad para ma-review and doktrina na ibinaba 9 years ago (There is a possibility. The NUJP petition is a good opportunity for a reversal of the decision issued 9 years ago.)”
Marquez, who is also Court Administrator, is referring to the SC decision in 2001 wherein it banned the television coverage of the plunder trial against former President Joseph Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.
Nine of 15 magistrates voiced out concerns that a live coverage of the plunder trial may jeopardize the rights of the accused.
On Friday, the NUJP formalized its petition before the SC, saying it is about time to give weight to the public’s right to information.
Marquez noted that most of the 9 magistrates who came out with the present jurisdiction have already retired.
Weighing the repercussions
He noted, however, that the current composition of the full court will have to weigh the pros and cons of opening the case for live coverage.
“Nandiyan pa rin yung karapatan ng akusado…that he should not be subjected to a trial by publicity (The right of the accused is still there.),” he said.
Another concern is the authenticity of the testimony of 1 witness, which may be affected by the testimony of another.
“Kapag live coverage, napapanood sa national TV…pati ng mga bata. Napakaselan nito para sa kanila. Lalo na may mga testimoniya ang mga witnesses describing the incident (Children may get to watch the case, it’s a very sensitive issue),” he noted.
Right to information is paramount
In a separate phone interview with www.abs-cbnnews.com, NUJP chairman Nestor Burgos said “there are always some trade-offs…but the right to information has more weight.”
He noted the NUJP is willing to accept restrictions.
“For example, there may just be one camera [for all to use], it will be a stationary camera,” he said. This is to ensure that several testimonies will not unduly hurt the sensitivities of the public.
The NUJP is now preparing for a nationwide commemoration of the November 23 incident, which claimed the lives of 57 civilians, including journalists.
The NUJP came out with 5 television commercials produced by volunteer experts reminding the public of the worst massacre case in the Philippines. A video shows the families of the victims.
“We hope that networks will air these for free as part of their public service,” Burgos said.
The group is also hoping that the print industry and other publications will come out with editorials commemorating the incident.
Compromise
To weigh the “competing values,” the SC may invite “friends of the court” or amici curiae, Marquez said.
“Maraming competing values na dapat ibalanse…On one hand, pinag-uusapan din natin ang transparency, right to information, freedom of the press,” he said.
He said the NUJP petition may be included in the en banc session on Tuesday. This will be the first session for the magistrates after coming from a break.
He clarified the live coverage may not help to hasten the resolution case.
“It’s more of the right of many…that they will be able to monitor what is happening. That the court is not taking one side,” he said.
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