Cayetano pushes for live coverage of plunder trial

CEBU, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano will continue to push for the Supreme Court to allow live media coverage of  the plunder trial against three of his colleagues who were involved in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

“Bawat hakbang hindi maiiwasan na may magdududa. Bakit hindi payagan ng Supreme Court and live coverage? Dapat itong payagan para hindi puro haka haka lang ang marinig ng taongbayan,” said Cayetano, who was in Cebu yesterday to distribute financial assistance.

Cayetano added that only those who are guilty and the unprepared are against the live media coverage.

He said that the plunder trial is imbued with public interest and the public has the right to know every step of the way.

“Marami nang mga scams na nangyari pero nanlamig lang at absuwelto na yung nga akusado. Ayaw natin na ganito ang mangyari sa pork barrel scam,” the senator added.

 In a separate statement, Cayetano said real-time coverage of the court proceedings at the Sandiganbayan will allow the Filipino people to render their own judgment on government officials involved in the scam.

The senator also backed the request of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for the SC to designate at least two special divisions in the Sandiganbayan to exclusively try the pork barrel cases.

He noted the magnitude of the pork scam trial considering that aside from Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile, Janet Lim-Napoles and five other personalities will also have to face trial at the same time.

Cayetano is hoping that the pork scam controversy should be over within 500 days before the change of administration in 2016. (FREEMAN)