SC allows live coverage of promulgation of Maguindanao massacre decision

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday decided to allow live media coverage of the December 19 promulgation of the trial court’s decision on the 2009 Maguindanao massacre where 58 persons died, 32 of them media practitioners.

Those killed were part of a convoy that was to accompany the registration of then Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu for the

2010 gubernatorial election.

Investigation reports stated that most of those killed were beheaded and their bodies mutilated.

Multiple murder cases were filed against 197 accused, with the trial of the cases handled by Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes.

Judge Reyes had earlier set the promulgation of her decision starting 9 a.m. on December 19 at the Quezon City jail annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Under the rules, Judge Reyes should have resolved the cases on or before Nov. 20, 2019 or 90 days after they were submitted for resolution last August.

But Reyes, in a plea submitted to the SC, requested a 30-day extension to resolve the cases. This was granted by the SC.

A memorandum on the extension sent to Reyes by Marquez stated:

“This office finds the ground for your request reasonable and hereby grants the same. Please be reminded, however, that you are hereby granted a non-extendible period of 30 days from 20 November 2019, or until 20 December 2019, within which to decide the said criminal cases.”

Based on the memorandum, Reyes requested an extension because of voluminous records involved in the cases – 165 volumes of records of proceedings, 65 volumes of transcripts of stenographic notes, and eight volumes of prosecution’s documentary evidence.

Explaining the SC’s decision to grant the extension, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta said “the Constitution provides that all trial courts should promulgate their decision within the 90-day period” (from the time the case is submitted for decision).

“In the case of Judge Reyes, you know very well that there are so many accused and there are so many victims in that case. We also allow meritorious motion for extension and we understand her predicament and we allowed her to have an extension of one month,” Peralta said.

On the live media coverage, Hosaka said:

1. Two television cameras of the government-owned PTV4 will be allowed inside the courtroom under the supervision of SC’s PIO. PTV4 is required to allow other media entities to tap into its network for live broadcast.

2. One television camera will be focused, on a wide-angle shot, on the judge and the court personnel who will read the decision.

3. The second camera will be focused, on a wide-angle shot, on the parties to the case and their lawyers.

4. Due to limited space, only accredited media representatives would be allowed.

5. Cellular telephones, cameras, except those of PTV4’s, audio recorders and other recording gadgets will not be allowed inside the courtroom.

6. No interviews by media practitioners will be allowed inside the courtroom before, during, and after the promulgation of the decision.

7. The SC has required the chief of the PIO to immediately upload the decision on the cases in the SC website – sc.judiciary.gov.ph.

8. Other details of the media coverage will be announced on Friday, December 13.