Live coverage rules worry lawyers

Just after the Supreme Court announced that they are allowing the live coverage of the Maguindanao Massacre trial, some lawyers are in doubt on the rules of the coverage as lawful.

"The brief footage and still images or cartographic sketches of the proceedings for news purposes suspends a fundamental right for an indefinite period of time and defeats the purpose of expanding the right of media to gather news, which is to honor the right of the public to information needed for a robust discussion of matters of public interest," said Attorney Rommel Bagares, one of the lawyer on the victims of the massacre.

Bagares wanted to maintain that the sub judice rule finds no place in a judge-directed trial that is a key feature of the Philippine criminal justice system.

"After conferring with representatives of the press, the court will see the constitutional significance of these points," he said.

Prosecution lawyer Harry Roque, however, said that though they were glad that finally the SC has approved the victims' request for a live coverage, they thought that the rules for the coverage violated media rights.

With that he asked the media to ask questions as regards the media guidelines.

Malacañang, meanwhile, were also happy with the SC's decision according to Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. They reiterated their call to the public to take opportunity to follow the coverage of the trial. — ARA