Senator backs move to decriminalize libel
Pangilinan
Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan on Saturday said he supports the prioritization of pending bills in Congress that will decriminalize libel.
"It would be a good signal that (President Macapagal-Arroyo supports) the freedom of the press especially now with (the presence of) what we feel to be a series of controversial measures that I believe violates the constitutional provisions on freedom of speech and expression," said Pangilinan in a press conference here.
Pangilinan said Congress can work on the swift passage of the bills if the President certifies it as urgent.
Chief Justice Reynato Puno this week said the Supreme Court will issue circular urging judges to impose fines instead of imprisonment in libel convictions.
But Puno said the circular is only an interim measure and that libel remains to be a criminal offense with imprisonment as an option in convictions until the law is repealed or amended.
Libel carries a penalty of from six months to four years imprisonment and a fine from P200 to P6,000.
Media organizations are pushing for the decriminalization of the offense because it is being used to harass and intimidate journalists especially those with critical reports.
Pangilinan said that while decriminalizing libel would be welcome, this should go "hand in hand with strengthening self-regulation (from the media)."
He said the self-regulation is necessary "so that the public will have a vehicle to raise issue concerning irresponsible journalism or corrupt practices."
While pushing for the decriminalization of the offense, media organizations should also create stronger procedures and mechanism for self regulation, according to Pangilinan.
"Just like any other institution, there are also bad eggs in the media," the senator said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has welcomed Puno's announcement and urged legislators to pass the bill decriminalizing libel.
"The NUJP will continue to campaign against criminal libel. We urge our lawmakers not to pass up this chance to strengthen press freedom and democracy," it said in a statement.