Group wants special court for Ampatuan trial

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, a media group pushed for a special court that will handle the high-profile case, in a bid to further speed up the proceedings. The National Press Club said the special court can hold daily hearings on the case, even as it bared plans for its own activities to mark the occasion. "Ang gagawin namin sa NPC, we can file the petition asking the Supreme Court to create a special court sa Maguindanao massacre, kung maaari araw-araw na yan (What we in the NPC can do is to file a petition asking the Supreme Court to create a special court to handle the Maguindanao massacre. If possible, hearings should be held daily)," NPC president Jerry Yap said in an interview on dwIZ. Yap indicated the NPC may file the petition before the high court Monday afternoon.

In September, the Supreme Court relieved Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the other cases she is handling, so she can concentrate on the Maguindanao massacre. (See: Ampatuan trial judge gets relief on case load) At present, Reyes holds hearings on the case once a week in Bicutan, Taguig City. She is expected to hold hearings twice a week but only for the month of December. Just last week, a survey by pollster Social Weather Stations showed that more people are dissatisfied with the way the government is handling the issue. (See: SWS: More people dissatisfied with govt handling of Maguindanao massacre) 'Gamble' on Aquino's successor? In seeking the creation of a special court, Yap said the lawyers of the defendants will likely use their resources to delay the proceedings for the next six years, then "gamble" on President Benigno Aquino III’s successor. "Doon sila tataya kung sino ang uupo (After six years, they will try to gain favor from the next administration)," he said. Yap lamented the trial has been dragging on, with motions and petitions taking up most of the once-a-week hearings. "Wala pa tayo sa 5 percent, ang bilis ng panahon, isang taon na anibersaryo ng massacre. Nasaan ang kaso ngayon? Para pa rin tayo sa Step One (We are not yet five percent done in this case. How time flies. It is already one year after the massacre. Yet where are we? We have yet to clear Step One)," he said. Yap said the NPC supports moves to allow live media coverage of the trial, saying government stations can cover the proceedings. He also said the NPC is open to "restrictions" on relatively sensitive aspects of the case, so long as it will not keep media from reporting on the developments. "Ang importante makita ng taumbayan ang ginagawa ng prosecution, ang ginagawa ng depensa at decision ng judge (What is important is that the people are aware of what the prosecution and defens are doing, and how the judge will decide)," he said. Activities in Manila In a related development, Yap said the NPC will hold its own activities in Manila’s Intramuros district to mark the anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre. He said the activities include a 1 p.m. motorcade around Manila, a mass, a candle-lighting and a vigil on Monday. They have also organized a "mock trial" where they will pass sentence on the suspects. Some students have also offered to recite poetry for the victims at the activity, he said. "Gusto natin iparating sa publiko tayong taga-media lahat tayo ay nakatutok [at] vigilant sa Maguindanao massacre (We want the public to know we in media are vigilant about developments in the Maguindanao massacre)," he said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV