Media groups to file 'e-petition' vs cybercrime law

MANILA (Updated, 9:04 a.m.) -- The first day of implementation of the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 will be met with another petition questioning its constitutionality before the Supreme Court.

Set to be filed by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) at 1 p.m. Wednesday, the petition was signed online by at least 211 individuals and 12 different media outfits and watchdogs.

These are the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Center for Community Journalism and Development, Peace and Conflict Journalism Network Philippines, Philippine Center for Photojournalism; ABS-CBN/ABS-CBNNews.com, GMA-7/GMA News Online, Rappler.com, Mindanews, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Interaksyon.com, Sun.Star, Daily Tribune, Malaya/Business Insight, VERA Files, and Far Eastern Broadcasting Corporation, among others.

"The media organizations leading this initiative believe that through this petition, the Philippine media are taking a collective stand and asserting their voice against Republlic Act 10175, using the very medium the law seeks to constrict," the NUJP said.

On Tuesday, the SC said it has deferred the deliberation of the petitions to next week, sparking disappointment among those who are pushing for a restraining order prior to the law's implementation.

The petitions specifically challenged the constitutionality of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 19 and 20 of the law, which were seen as violations of freedom of speech, right to privacy, illegal searches and seizures and double jeopardy.

The insertion of provisions regarding online libel and vague sections on data collection and sanctions were also slammed by media groups for leaning towards censorship. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)