It’s final: No live coverage of Maguindanao massacre trial

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 13, denied 3 motions asking it to reverse an earlier decision disallowing the live coverage of the Maguindanao massacre trial.  

“The court cited the lack of uniformity in rule or practice in other jurisdictions in relation to allowing cameras in the court room. It also cited the need to protect the rights of the parties and the dignity of the courts as well as ensure the orderly conduct of the proceedings,” SC spokesperson Ted Te said in a press conference Tuesday, January 13.  

In its decision, the High Court also took into account the common practice in other countries, Te said. “The court considered the practical aspects of broadcast criminal trial proceedings in foreign jurisdictions finding that most countries still did not allow cameras in their court rooms,” Te said. 

In its first ruling on the issue in 2011, the Supreme Court allowed the live coverage of the trial subject to certain restrictions, which required media outfits to show a continuous broadcast of the case without breaks and barred journalists from providing annotations while the hearing was ongoing. Then Associate Justice and now Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales penned the decision. 

In 2012, however, the High Court granted the motion for reconsideration of the Ampatuan camp to bar live media coverage. Andal Ampatuan Jr, one of the principal accused, argued that showing the proceedings live violated his right to due process. 

The Court made the commitment to install closed-circuit viewing areas outside the courtroom – similar to those set up for SC en banc sessions. 

Audio-visual recordings were allowed but only for documentary process. 

A total of 3 petitions were filed asking the High Court to reconsider its position – one from the widows of those killed in the Maguindanao massacre: one from Editha Mirandilla-Tiamzon and Glenna Legarta; another from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines; and another from President Benigno Aquino III himself through the Office of the Solicitor General. 

All three petitions were denied Tuesday. 

On November 23, 2009, 58 individuals, including 32 journalists, were buried using a backhoe after armed men – allegedly ordered by then Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr – massacred them in a bid to stop the wife of his political rival, Esmael Mangudadatu from filing his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu won and is still holding the post. (WATCH: Families remember Ampatuan massacre victims)

A total of 197 individuals have been charged for the crime, with 111 of those already arrested and arraigned. (INFOGRAPHIC: Maguindanao massacre case, 5 years on)

Five years after the deadliest massacre to be committed in the Philippines in recent years, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 presiding judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes is still hearing bail petitions. The government has already rested its case on the bail hearings and it is the defense team’s turn to present their evidence. – Rappler.com