MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Impeachment Court should allow accredited news organizations to operate their own cameras inside the proceedings to ensure broader media coverage, House prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said Thursday.
Chua said television cameras from news organizations were allowed inside the impeachment trials of former president Joseph Estrada and former chief justice Renato Corona, arguing that the same arrangement could be implemented under reasonable rules.
“Right now, television networks and other news organizations largely depend on the official Senate video feed,” Chua said.
“That feed is useful, but journalists should also have reasonable freedom to decide what to cover and where to point their cameras,” he added.
Chua clarified that his proposal did not seek unrestricted access, saying the court could limit camera access to accredited news organizations and impose rules on camera positions, pooling, rotation, movement, noise and lighting.
He also said international news organizations could be accommodated directly or through local media partners.
“Let journalists do their job,” Chua said, arguing that an impeachment trial was too important for the public to see only through a single official camera feed.
Chua said greater media access would complement calls for transparency in the impeachment proceedings, particularly as senator-judges assess the testimony and demeanor of witnesses.
“More transparency will not diminish the dignity of the Impeachment Court,” he said adding that “It can strengthen public confidence in the process.”
