Lawmakers propose law allowing televised court proceedings

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Lawmakers are proposing to allow the live media coverage of court proceedings.

House Bill 4236, dubbed “Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2014,” seeks to allow judges to permit the “photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public” court proceedings as long as it does not violate the due process rights of any party.

It also requires that witnesses’ be disguised and their voice be obscured if the broadcasting of the proceeding threatens their safety, the security of the court, as well as the integrity of law enforcement operations.

Those involved in the case also have “the right to request that [their] face, image and voice be obscured.”

The bill, however, prohibits the recording of conversations between lawyers and their clients and other forms of privileged communication.

One of the authors of the bill, Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez said in a statement, “While it may be true that there are disadvantages to having live media coverage, it is also true that the benefits definitely outweigh them.”

READ: Live coverage and the rights of the accused

Co-authoring the bill is his brother Abante Mindanao partylist Representative Maximo Rodriguez Jr.

“Also, by allowing such live coverage, the public itself could get first-hand information on what is happening or how the trial is proceeding, aside from having another form of documentation on the proceedings of the trial which may help the appellate courts if ever the case is appealed,” they explained.

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