Live coverage of massacre case junked with finality

The Maguindanao massacre trial will remain off limits to live media coverage as the Supreme Court has denied with finality several appeals to its 2012 decision that barred real-time broadcast of the proceedings.

In en banc proceedings on Tuesday, the high court junked three motions for reconsideration that sought to overturn its Oct. 23, 2012 ruling against live coverage of the trial, a high-profile case that has seen keen media following since proceedings began in 2010.

Nearly 200 accused are facing an expectedly lengthy trial for the Nov. 23, 2009 murder of 58 people in Maguindanao province, among them journalists.

In a resolution, the high court upheld its earlier ruling, saying it saw “no reason to reverse” its decision to keep Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 shut from media cameras.

The rejected appeals include reconsideration pleas sought by President Aquino, through the Office of the Solicitor General, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and petitioners Editha Mirandilla-Tiamzon and Glenna Legarta.

In its resolution, the court noted that the judiciary lacked a singular rule on live coverage, and cited the need to protect the rights of litigants.

“The court cited the lack of uniformity in rule or practice in other jurisdictions in relation to allowing cameras in the courtroom,” said court spokesperson Theodore Te.

“It also cited the need to protect the rights of the parties and the dignity of the courts,” said Te.