G.R. No. 232131 - Ifurung vs. Carpio-Morales

On March 13, 2001, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) petitioned the Supreme Court for live radio and television coverage of former President Joseph E. Estrada’s pending Sandiganbayan trials for plunder and related criminal cases.
Subsequent letters of support came from Cesar N. Sarino (April 5, 2001), Senator Renato Cayetano and Atty. Ricardo Romulo (April 2001).
On April 17, 2001, Secretary of Justice Hernando B. Perez filed a formal petition urging live coverage “to assure full transparency” and to allay fears of a “railroading” of the cases.

Former President Estrada, through counsel, opposed live coverage (May 21, 2001; supplemental May 30, 2001) on grounds of due-process prejudice, undue publicity, and potential propaganda misuse.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), in its April 16, 2001 resolution, opposed live media coverage, citing threats to witness exclusion rules, the credibility of the justice system, and the risk of populist pressure on the court.
The Sandiganbayan’s Presiding Justice reported divided views among its members, with six Justices against and eight in favor of live coverage.

Whether live radio and television coverage of the Sandiganbayan hearings on the Estrada plunder cases should be permitted under the Constitution and existing jurisprudence.
How to reconcile the people’s right to information and freedom of the press with the accused’s right to a fair trial and the court’s power to regulate its proceedings.