Regarding Ecleo Trial Security: Dialogue of media, judge deadlocked

CEBU, Philippines - The dialogue between the reporters covering the Palace of Justice and Regional Trial Court judge Soliver Peras ended up in a deadlock yesterday after none of the two parties would yield their respective positions on the order issued by the court handling the parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. regarding coverage and other security matters during trial.

RTC executive judge Meinrado Paredes yesterday called another meeting between the judges and the members of the Media Alliance for Law Liberty Equality and Truth following the objections raised by the reporters against the requirement of Peras for the media to submit 1x1 ID pictures for them to be allowed to cover the Ecleo trial next week.

In a two-page order that Peras issued yesterday he directed the members of the media “to submit to this court a list of the names of their respective representatives with their corresponding pictures who will be allowed to cover the proceedings”.

On top of the picture he also required the members of the media to wear their press cards for cross-matching with the submitted pictures.

The reporters covering the courts objected to the submission of the picture for security reason. There were instances in the past that members of the media were harassed and even killed because the parties of the case did not like their reporting.

It is the stand of MALLET, as an organization, that requiring members of the media to submit their pictures on top of their company issued IDs is a security risk considering that the accused in this case has numerous fanatics.

The reporters pleaded for a reconsideration of the order and exempt the members of the media, especially the MALLET, considering that they are already known to the security personnel of the Palace of Justice and to most of the judges themselves for they cover the events of the court everyday.

Some of the judges admitted they do not also like the order of Peras but explained that they cannot reverse it for they have to observe the principle of judicial independence.

Paredes explained that while he is the executive judge he cannot tell Peras to set aside his order but can only persuade him to do so.

Aside from the media, observers from both the prosecution and the defense were also asked to submit the list of their names and pictures.

Peras cited security reason in being so strict in the guidelines for media coverage and even for the security arrangement during the trial. He directed the chiefs of the Cebu City and Cebu Provincial Police Offices to submit the names of the policemen who will be assigned to secure the hearing next week.

The Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Cebu City Police Office, the Special Reaction Unit of the province and the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will be on hand to secure the proceedings.

Because of the impasse Paredes has scheduled another meeting on Monday afternoon with the hope that the media and Peras will be able to come up with a win-win solution to the conflict. — Fred P. Languido/BRP    (FREEMAN NEWS)