We laud the decision of the Supreme Court to allow live media coverage of the promulgation of the decision on the Maguindanao Massacre case.
Ten years ago, on Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people were killed in what has come to be known as the worst case of election-related violence and the bloodiest single-day attack on media workers—32 of the 58 worked for various news organizations—in the Philippines.
The tragedy happened in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, and it stunned the world for its impunity. The victims were part of a convoy of family members and supporters of the then-challenger to the Ampatuans, Esmeal Mangudadatu, who were on their way to file his certificate of candidacy on his behalf. The media workers were covering the story.
The past 10 years after the massacre have not been easy. After the initial outrage at the boldness and the cruelty of the killings, the trial receded into the background of Filipinos’ consciousness amid our many concerns. Over 10 years, while nearly 200 individuals have been charged, one of the principal accused, patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., has died. While brothers Andal Jr. and Zaldy are in jail, Sajid Ampatuan is out on bail and is mayor of a town in Maguindanao. Many witnesses have died or dropped their testimonies.
After a protracted trial, the verdict is set to be promulgated next week—Dec. 19, after the trial court asked for a 30-day extension to review the evidence.
The live coverage, according to the Supreme Court, will be through People’s Television. The court said it allowed the coverage “because of the paramount public interest involved in this case.”
The coverage of the promulgation, which will take place at 9 a.m. on said date at the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, will seek to provide some measure of justice and closure to the families of the deceased. Many of them are not in Metro Manila and will otherwise have no access to the decision, much less be able to learn why the court came to its verdict.
The verdict itself will be remembered for what it will—or will not—do. Will the court tell us that impunity has no place in our society, no matter how powerful or wealthy or well-connected one is? Will the people be assured that justice, no matter how delayed, still works, or will we be aghast that powerful individuals can still get away with evil?
It will be the triumph or failure of justice that will be for everybody to see.
