Cayetano: Allow live media coverage of pork scam trial

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano said the Supreme Court (SC) should allow live media coverage on the plunder trial of the P10-billion pork scam, saying the matter is imbued with public interest.

Cayetano said real-time coverage of the court proceedings at the Sandiganbayan will allow the Filipino people to render their own judgment on government officials involved in the scam, including three of their elected senators.

"Kung naka-live yan, kung ano ang nakikita ng huwes, yun din ang nakikita ng bawat mamamayan o kaya naririnig sa radyo," he said.

"Lahat ay nililigawan ang publiko. Ang judiciary, gustong ipakita na fair siya at nanliligaw sa public opinion at mataas ang standards ng judiciary natin. Ang prosecution, nililigawan ang tao para ipakita na guilty talaga ang accused. Ang depensa, nililigawan din ang tao para ipakita na pinulitika lang o hindi totoong guilty ang kanilang kliyente. So makikita mo, win-win situation ang isang coverage."

The senator also backed the request of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for the SC to designate at least two special divisions in the Sandiganbayan to exclusively try the pork barrel cases.

He noted the magnitude of the pork scam trial considering that only three senators, Janet Lim-Napoles, and five other personalities have so far been accused of plunder before the Sandiganbayan.

Cayetano said that the pork scam controversy should be considered case closed within 500 days before the change of administration in 2016.

"Alam natin na kung sino man ang Presidente, malaki ang impluwensya kung may makakasuhan o hindi, kung may mako-convict o hindi. Tingnan mo ang attitude ni Vice President, sinabi ba niya diyan sa Dasma gate na imbestigahan ang anak niya? Ngayon lumabas na meron din silang foundation, sinabi ba niyang imbestigahan? Kung sinuman ang magiging Presidente sa 2016, huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan, magkakaroon ng epekto yan sa kaso nitong tatlo," he said.

Cayetano stressed that a swift trial would also benefit Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr, who all claimed innocence and had nothing to do with the plunder of the people's money.

"Kung ikaw ay isang inosente na inakusahan at kinulong, hindi ba mas gusto mo din mapabilis? So walang dapat magreklamo talaga kung mapabilis ang kaso basta fair," he said.