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Ampatuan camp asked to comment on live broadcast of trial


The Supreme Court has asked the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre case led by former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to comment on the petitions seeking the live coverage of the ongoing trial. In a resolution issued last November 23—the first anniversary of the massacre where at least 58 people were killed—but only released to the media on Sunday, the high court asked all respondents to comment on the petitions within 10 days. Four separate petitions have been filed by different media networks and organizations before the high court asking for live media coverage of the trial being presided by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. In these petitions, the media groups challenged two earlier rulings of the SC denying the request to air court proceedings, saying these violate the right to information and freedom of the press. The four petitions have been consolidated with the letter-request sent by President Benigno Aquino III to Chief Justice Renato Corona where the President also asked for the live broadcast of the trial. President Aquino said in his letter-request that the trial must be conducted “in full public view" to show that “justice can and will be dispensed without fear or favor and in the full light of day." A total of 198 individuals have been accused of involvement in the killing of 58 people in Maguindanao province last year allegedly led by Andal Jr. to prevent then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu from challenging an Ampatuan clan member in the province's gubernatorial race. Of this number, only 51 have been arraigned in the court proceedings that formally started last September. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMANews.TV

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