The scheduled first hearing of the Quezon City Regional Trial (RTC) on the multiple murder charges against Datu Unsay (Maguindanao) town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was moved to the first week of January as the prospective venue to be used as courtroom inside Camp Crame in Quezon City remained unavailable.

Atty. Midas Marquez, Supreme Court spokesman, said Monday the first hearing set today, Tuesday, would not push through.

“Our first hearing was moved any time in the first week of January after conducting an ocular inspection. It is impossible to hold hearing on Tuesday or Wednesday based on the physical appearance of the prospective venue,” he said.

Marquez said two rooms were being considered. “One of them lacks the facility and still being occupied by Camp Crame personnel. I will meet with the presiding judge (Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of the Quezon City RTC Branch 221) to discuss this matter regarding the first hearing by January,” he said.

The SC spokesman further stressed that the venue should be large enough to accommodate the media and the public as well as those who want to witness the progress of the trial.

"The media and public are allowed to go there. This is one of the considerations that led to the rescheduling of the hearing. We may put up an LCD monitor in another room so the media can view the entire proceeding," Marquez said.

He also clarified that Judge Reyes is ready to preside the hearing of the case. “She is ready to hear the case even by tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday. It is just the venue is not yet ready. We are using a different a venue to be transformed as a courtroom and not the regular court in this case,” he said.

Last week, the SC granted the petition filed by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, seeking the transfer of the venue of the hearing of the multiple murder cases filed against Ampatuan Jr., from the Regional Trial Court of Cotabato City to the Quezon City RTC.

The SC also directed Judge Jocelyn Reyes, of Quezon City RTC Branch 221, where the case was reraffled, to hear the cases at Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, to ensure the security of those who will be involved in the trial.

Devanadera cited security concerns in seeking the transfer of the venue of the hearing of the Maguindanao massacre case.

Last Friday, the Department of Justice (DoJ) held its first preliminary investigation on the multiple murder complaints filed by the PNP and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against some 200 respondents, including members of the powerful Ampatuan clan.