Archbishop backs appeal of media for live coverage of Maguindanao massacre ruling

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic archbishop has backed calls of various media organizations to allow the live coverage of the promulgation of the Maguindanao massacre case.

“We want to hear what the court would say… That would be very much welcomed by the public,” Archbishop Martin Jomuad of Ozamiz was quoted as saying in an article posted by CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) News.

The promulgation of the case is scheduled on December 19, more than 10 years since the gruesome Maguindanao massacre happened.

It will be held at the Quezon City Jail Annex – Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) earlier filed a petition to allow the live coverage of the promulgation of the case.

The NUJP said that in doing so, families who would not be able to travel to Manila would still be able to immediately monitor the decision of the court.

The groups added that the coverage would ensure transparency and increase public trust in the judiciary.

Jomuad said he hoped that the verdict will be “favorable to the victims”, adding that the court “must not give so much weight on technicalities, but on evidence.”

“It must be favorable to the victims otherwise the public will condemn our justice system,” he said.