Hundreds view test webcast of Maguindanao massacre trial

Hundreds of Internet users viewed on the Supreme Court website on Wednesday the country's first-ever livestreaming of a court proceeding, that of the high-profile Maguidnananao massacre trial. Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said based on their monitoring, at least 15 web users initially viewed the livestream but it quickly ballooned to more than 200 web users in the middle of the hearing at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. "Medyo successful naman ito but we want to improve this pa. Kasi may five-second delay. Pero ang video at audio ay clear naman," Marquez said. Marquez said they might conduct a second test livestream but refused to give a date. The livestream was made possible through a webcam installed on the right front side of the court room and offered a wideshot view of the courtroom. Marquez said clips from the livestreaming can be used for a later newscast. No webcast on Thursday However, he said they will not livestream the proceedings on Thursday because they will spend the day reviewing Wednesday's livestreaming and come up with means to improve it. "We will still be checking our infrastructure... Kasi paano kung lumaki na from 200 viewers, maging 500 na, 1,000 or 2,000," Marquez said. While audio and video from the live stream were "clear," Marquez said he also received some reports that there were times the video was "choppy." Supreme Court guidelines The web livestream was decided by Chief Justice Renato Corona shortly after the Supreme Court justices voted unanimously to allow the live broadcast of the trial last June 14, according to court administrator and spokesman Midas Marquez. The SC's guidelines for the live broadcast prohibit media networks from including commercial breaks in their broadcasts. News anchors are also barred from making voice-overs and lengthy annotations. "To provide faithful broadcast, no commercial break or any other gap shall be allowed until proceedings are adjourned, except during periods of recess called by the trial court," the guidelines state. The SC-PIO will also provide the single camera inside the court room. The news networks will then get their feed from the camera provided by the SC. The Maguindanao massacre trial is being presided over by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 21 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. Among the accused are clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan. They supposedly masterminded the gruesome killings of 57 people in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. - with Sophie Dedace, VVP, GMA News