(Updated: 11:04 p.m.) In maintaining strict guidelines on the live coverage of the Maguindanao massacre trial, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday said it wants “the public [to] decide and see for themselves the entire proceedings†without commercial breaks and remarks of news anchors.
“As much as possible, we don’t want to unduly influence the public. That is what this live coverage is all about,†Court Administrator and SC spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez told reporters in a press briefing.
The Court Administrator reminded the media that this live coverage is “more than a business, but a service.â€
Marquez clarified that the court wants the trial proceedings covered in full. He said the news networks will have to get their feed from the SC camera stationed at the courtroom.
He explained why the camera should not pan to, or zoom on, subjects. “If you will choose what you want to air, then you’ll not be providing the complete picture. The people will rely on views and opinions of the anchors,†Marquez said.
Petitioners can ask SC to reconsider
The Court Administrator clarified that the high court’s decision and guidelines on live media coverage of the Maguindanao massacre trial can still be appealed.
TV networks GMA and ABS-CBN and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), which petitioned the court for the live broadcast of the trial, have the option to ask the SC to reconsider, Marquez said.
The SC will have a dialogue with media entities that will seek accreditation for live coverage of the trial. Marquez said the court will not entertain appeals and requests for adjustments during the dialogue on implementing the high tribunal’s decision.
Private prosecutor Harry Roque, who represents the families of 14 of the 32 journalists killed in the November 2009 massacre, said the guidelines on full coverage might discourage the media from covering the trial proceedings.
“With such a condition, it’s like substituting the editorial discretion of the news stations,†Roque told reporters at the sidelines of Wednesday’s pre-trial conference in Quezon City.
He said news managers should be left to decide which portions of the trial to air based on its newsworthiness, adding that such is part of the media’s freedom as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
With such a strict guideline, Roque said media networks might be discouraged to apply for live coverage accreditation since TV stations thrive on advertisements, according to the NUJP.
News networks have to apply with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, which handles the hearings, for accreditation.
On Roque’s opinion, Marquez said the news networks should be the ones that should raise such concerns. “We’d rather hear from the networks. I think they’ll be in the best position to tell the court,†he said.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael ‘Toto’ Mangudadatu said relatives of the massacre victims, who have limited or no means to travel to Manila to attend the trial sessions, welcome the decision to allow the live coverage.
Mangudadatu was echoing the relatives’ views on the SC ruling in GMA News’ Jam Sisante’s report aired Wednesday on “24 Oras.†Mangudadatu’s wife and sister were among those killed on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao.
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Protecting witnesses
Another member of the prosecution panel, who spoke with GMA News Online on condition of anonymity, said the live coverage could endanger the lives of witnesses who will be presented in court, especially those under government protection.
He said allowing a video camera to take day-long footage inside the court room of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes would mean the identities and faces of their witnesses would be revealed to the public.
The lawyer said the panel is particularly concerned with those who are under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“Our eyewitnesses are with the Witness Protection Program. We don’t want them to be exposed,†he said.
The prosecution member said the Supreme Court ruling on live coverage could breech the “confidentiality of the membership of the witnesses to the WPP.â€
Apart from witnesses admitted to the WPP, the prosecution is also concerned with the safety of the suspects who are being eyed to become state witnesses and testify against their co-accused to prove that the massacre was pre-meditated and a conspiracy.
The prosecution is asking Solis-Reyes to turn three of the accused â€" Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon, PO1 Rainer Ebus, and Mohamad Sangki â€" into state witnesses, but the judge has yet to act on it.
A fourth suspect, Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg, was also being eyed to turn state witness but the prosecution later dropped the idea after deeming his testimony “immaterial,†according to court records.
The lawyer who asked not to be named also said airing the trial in its entirety, with barely any break and annotation, might end up confusing the public.
“The public at large may not be conversant with the procedure and might think this all drama,†the lawyer said.
Defense counsels, particularly lawyer Sigfrid Fortun the legal counsel for prime suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and son Andal Jr., have strongly opposed moves to allow live coverage of the trial for fear it could lead to trial by publicity against their clients. â€" KBK/LBG/ELR/VS, GMA
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