MANILA: President Benigno Aquino has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its resolution that banned the live coverage of the trial of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
Aquino, through the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) Francis Jardeleza, filed a 15-page motion for reconsideration received on Wednesday by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 asking the high court to reverse its earlier ruling issued last October 23 that granted the petition of accused Andal Ampatuan Jr to disallow live coverage of the trial.
“With due respect, the trial of the deplorable, heinous and inhuman Maguindanao massacre – a crime that is an illustration of the culture of impunity prevalent in the country – is imbued with public interest; thus, the need for its live radio and television coverage to ensure transparency and maintain integrity in the administration of justice,” said the motion dated November 22.
“The live radio and television coverage of the Maguindanao massacre trial would not prejudice the rights of the accused,” it added. The SC full bench overturned its earlier resolution that allowed live coverage of the trial.
Members of the Ampatuan clan and their henchmen allegedly committed the massacre where 58 people were killed on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao.
The clan’s patriarch, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, several of his sons and relatives and members of their so-called private army are accused in the killings.
Among the dead were the wife of Gov Esmael Mangudadatu and two of his sisters, two female lawyers and 32 media men who covered the supposed filing of certificate of candidacy of the then vice mayor of Buluan town who would run for governor of Maguindanao and challenge an Ampatuan. The Mangudadatus have accused the Ampatuans of masterminding the incident, specifically pointing to former mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao as one of the leaders of 100 armed men who abducted Mangudadatu’s supporters. The Ampatuans denied the allegations.
Aquino’s motion said that the SC is disallowing the live media broadcast of the trial of the Maguindanao massacre cases but is still allowing the filming of the proceedings for real-time transmissions to specified viewing areas, and documentation.
The Philippine star
