Militants score media restrictions in Ampatuan trial

A group of militants on Wednesday massed outside Camp Crame in Quezon City, protesting the restrictions being imposed on media in covering the multiple murder trial of Maguindanao massacre key suspect Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. The protesters gathered to support the case against Andal Jr. and oppose the media restraints. The Supreme Court earlier prohibited live coverage of the trial and the use of electronic devices to record court proceedings presided by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes. "Nakakalungkot ito, dapat wider coverage at greater transparency (This is saddening. There should be wider coverage and greater transparency," said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary-General Renato Reyes. The trial was ongoing as of posting time. The group, which numbered about a hundred, consisted of members of Bayan, Gabriela, National Union of Journalists of the Philipines (NUJP), and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). The rallyists also opposed the idea of the court granting Andal Jr.’s petition for bail, saying that to do so would allow the multiple murder suspect an opportunity to regain power over the Ampatuan clan's feared private army. The government has been going after private armed groups since last year's gruesome killings, even creating a commission to look into the decades-old peace and order problem. Likewise, the government has banned the use of private escorts, security personnel or bodyguards by candidates at the start of the election period last January 10. "Kapag siya [Andal Jr.] ay pansamantalang makalaya, mababalik sa kanila ang control at kapangyarihan ng private armies. Ma-teterorize ang mamamayan sa Maguindanao [at] pati na ang mga testigo," Reyes told GMANews.TV. (If Andal Jr. gets temporary liberty, he would regain control and power over private armies. This would terrorize people in Maguindanao and witnesses of the massacre.) Reyes said some of their members would go to the crime scene in Ampatuan town to commemorate the second month of the November 23 massacre. The November 23 Movement, a coalition of 17 media organizations, said media restrictions on the trial violated press freedom. "We concede that the court has to abide by some rules during the trial, but restrictions in the Ampatuan trial are at best unreasonable and at worst a violation of press freedom," the group said. — with Sophia Dedace/RSJ/NPA, GMANews.TV