SC OKS live broadcast of massacre verdict

The Supreme Court has allowed the live TV broadcast of the promulgation of the Nov. 23, 2009, Maguindanao massacre case next week.

The verdict on over 100 members of the powerful Ampatuan clan and their aides for the gruesome killing of 58 persons, including 32 media workers in what is considered the country’s worst election-related violence, will be broadcast live on Dec. 19 over state-run PTV 4 network.

However, the Supreme Court barred members of the media from inside the makeshift courtroom of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-reyes inside the Philippine National Police’s Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig due to space constraints and security concerns.

The tribunal also banned cell phones, cameras and recording

Unanimously approved

Supreme Court public information chief Brian Hosaka said the justices unanimously approved the request for the live coverage of the culmination of the 10-year trial.

He said the court would be crammed with about 400 persons, including more than 100 accused and the relatives of the victims waiting for the court’s verdict.

Of the 197 accused, 117 were arrested while 80 still remain at-large.

The alleged masterminds, brothers former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan are in jail while their father, the late Maguindanao governor, died in detention in July 2015.

Hosaka said only two cameras from PTV 4 would be allowed inside the courtroom; one would be directed at the judge and whoever would read the court decision, while the other would be directed at the accused and the relatives of the victims.

The Supreme Court has disallowed zooming in on any of the parties.

Television networks, including foreign networks, will be allowed to tap into PTV 4’s live broadcast.

Members of the media, who will be limited to one team per media outfit, will have to watch the TV broadcast from an adjoining holding room.

The Supreme Court said no interviews would be allowed inside the courtroom even after the promulgation. Any interviews will be done in a designated area.

“We really want this to be an orderly proceeding. This is a formal court proceeding and we want to maintain order,” Hosaka said.