Sandiganbayan asks SC’s help in media coverage of pork trial

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 11 years ago

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te. Noy Morcoso lll/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te on Monday said the Sandiganbayan is asking their help for the media coverage of the pork barrel scam trial.

Te said Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang has sought the help of the high court in setting up a feed of the trial to the lobby, where reporters can listen to the trial and break the news while outside.

This set-up is similar to the coverage of the oral arguments, Te said.

“As far as the instructions of the Presiding Justice to us, there will be no live coverage. But there will be a feed,” said Te, who was in the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.

But he said the feed cannot be captured live.

The anti-graft court has said it would not allow live coverage of the trial.

The court would also not allow recording or any communication devices in the trial.

Reporters may attend the trial but only with pen and paper to jot down notes.

Media practitioners had asked the Sandiganbayan to set up a feed of the trial proceedings so they could monitor it live outside.

Te added it is likely that the media would be required to quote the trial in its entirety—similar to the oral arguments coverage in the Supreme Court—to avoid misquoting the justices.

Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada are facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, the biggest corruption scandal under the current administration.

Revilla is facing one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft; Enrile with one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft; and Estrada with one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft.

As of press time, the anti-graft court has found probable cause against Revilla, which would be the basis to issue an arrest warrant.

The warrant is being readied to be served on Friday.

Also charged is alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

The pork barrel scam is an elaborate scheme of allegedly diverting billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds, meant to ease poverty of the lawmakers’ constituencies, to ghost projects for kickbacks.