De Lima welcomes live broadcast of Ampatuan trial; fiscals afraid

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) welcomed yesterday a Supreme Court (SC) decision approving the live media coverage of the Maguindanao massacre case.

Secretary Leila de Lima believes the live broadcast would not jeopardize the security of the DOJ panel of prosecutors handling the case.

“The identities of the members of the prosecution panel are no longer a secret, so I don’t think live coverage would jeopardize their security. Besides, the panel and the witnesses are well-guarded during hearings,” she told reporters.

She said public prosecutors are provided with security by National Bureau of Investigation, while their witnesses by the Intelligence Service Operations Group of Witness Protection Program.

Public prosecutors handling the multiple murder case against the 197 accused, including members of the Ampatuan clan, said they are not happy with the High Court’s decision.

“We are really afraid of our security because we will be easily identified now when the trial is aired lived,” Assistant State Prosecutor Amor Robles told The STAR. “We are only given security when there’s hearing. Honestly, we hope there’s no more live coverage.”

The panel is chaired by Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Pete Medalle. Other members include Assistant State Prosecutors Romeo Martin Seranilla and Grace Ruiz.

The High Court on Tuesday allowed live media coverage of the trial, but SC spokesman Midas Marquez said it will only be implemented once the ruling becomes final. The Ampatuans are reportedly planning to file a motion for reconsideration. They have 15 days from receipt of notice to do so.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, who is handling the trial, approved a request for the regular medical checkup of clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son, Zaldy.

Senior Inspector Bernardino Camus, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, where the Ampatuans are detained, wrote Reyes last June 9 that both Ampatuans are suffering from diabetes. Ampatuan Sr. also has asthma, osteoarthritis, external hemorrhoids, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he said.

Government prosecutors did not oppose Reyes’ decision. Medalle said they do not see any problem so long as the routine checkup is done in the prison compound. 

Camus, who was assigned as OIC last month amid allegations of special treatment for the Ampatuans, said attending physician Chief Inspector Agnes Aglipay will monitor the health of the two suspects. – Edu Punay, Aie Balagtas See