Wednesday, February 13, 2008 PB backs decriminalizing libel
THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) is supporting the bill of Sen. Francis Escudero seeking to remove libel from the statute books as a criminal offense and reduce it to a civil liability.
The resolution, sponsored by Board Member Juan Bolo, was unanimously passed during the session last Monday.
In his sponsored resolution, Bolo said that libel, as a crime, gives pressure on the press.
The Revised Penal Code states that those convicted of libel will face imprisonment, pay a fine, or both.
Bolo said in the resolution that “this might lead to the effect that mediamen will be threatened of blackmail.”
“This move will not just give fairness but it will give them courage to bring the truth to the people,” the resolution further read.
Earlier, Senate minority leaders Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Francis Escudero called for the decriminalization of libel.
Their move came after the Supreme Court issued a circular instructing all judges to give preference to the imposition of monetary penalty instead of imprisonment for those who will be convicted of libel.
“While the Supreme Court circular is a welcome development to the constantly besieged Philippine media, the fact still remains that libel is still a criminal offense in this country, thus the pressure is still there that can be used by people with malicious intent against members of the fourth estate,” Escudero was quoted as saying.
Pimentel had asked Escudero, chairman of the committee on justice and human rights, to convene a public hearing on the pending bills to decriminalize libel and to prepare the measure for plenary deliberation.
“The Senate should pass the bill decriminalizing libel. This is not a matter of personal advocacy. This is a matter of logic and reason because the country’s libel law is antiquated,” Pimentel said.
He added that if the Philippines would follow the example of many civilized countries in the world today like the United States, people are no longer jailed for libel.
Escudero also added that the country needs to reform our libel law because these are no longer applicable to the present situation. (KNT)
