Marlon Purificacion & Efren Montano    
Journal Online
November 17, 2010

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a resolution urging that the  Maguindanao massacre trial should be made public through radio and television coverage.

“It would be in the best interest of our judiciary to have transparency in the judicial process, especially in such an unprecedented case of brutality that captured the attention of the international media. The Constitution recognizes the right of the people to public information on matter of public concern,” Pangilinan said in his Senate Resolution 186.

Meanwhile, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is thumbs up to a live media coverage of the Ampatuan trial in connection with the one year old Maguindanao massacre in 2009.

The President told Palace reporters that it would be “a helpful direction.”

The senator also notes that having the proceedings twice a week is the right step to give justice to the Ampatuan massacre victims.

“If we have it twice a week, and if we make that transparent by broadcasting the trial live, then that would facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice because the court knows that the whole world will be watching,” he said.

Pangilinan added that the courts should be careful not to play into the delaying tactics of the defense.

Prosecutors have been complaining of delaying tactics from the Ampatuan lawyers.

“The prosecution has 227 witnesses while the defense has 373. May nababalita pang mga delaying tactics. Hindi yata maganda ang tinatakbo ng kaso. Isang taon na ang nakalipas. Namatayan na nga tayo ng isang prosecutor (Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera died of a heart attack on Nov. 4, 2010). Kung gagapang ang kaso ng matagal, e tila ’di natin makakamtan ang tunay na hustisya,” he added.   

View original post Journal Online

Image Source: Washington Post