Anti-voyeurism law passes Congress
BACOLOD CITY -- Bacolod City Lone District Representative Monico O. Puentevella announced that the House Committee on Justice chaired by Honorable Matias Defensor recently approved the "Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009."
The substitute bill consolidates House Bills 472, 6220 and 6408 which Puentevella authored along with Representatives Rufus Rodriguez and Bienvenido Abante.
The Bacolod solon said that the passage of the bill should not be hinged on the fact that there are high profile personalities involved in the sex scandal that has been the content of the recent news.
"There was no need to invite resource persons or witnesses to shed light on the matter nor initiate an investigation in aid of legislation as the application of the bill is straightforward," Puentevella added.
In his sponsorship bill, he stated that mostly unidentified women victims of these scandals have suffered enough and have endured the stigma of having their most private moments displayed for public consumption long enough that there is no need to extend their pain and humiliation.
Prohibited acts under the measure include the taking of photos or video coverage - of a person or group of persons performing the sexual act or any similar activity, the private areas of a person or of any circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy - without the consent of the parties involved; to copy or reproduce or to cause the copying or reproducing such photo or video; to sell or distribute the original or copy of said photo or video and the publishing or broadcasting of such in print or broadcast media, the internet, cellular phones and similar means and device.
Puentevella said that penalty imposed for those found guilty of violating this Voyeurism Act shall be imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than P100,000.