ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro has refiled a House Bill (HB) seeking the decriminalization of libel.
This, after the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed a cyber libel conviction versus Nobel Peace Prize awardee, journalist, and Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr.
Castro thus filed HB 1769 or An Act Decriminalizing Libel, Repealing for the Purpose Articles 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 360, 361, and 362 of Act No. 3815 as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code.
"Following the affirmation of the Court of Appeals (CA) of the guilty verdict against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Rey Santos, Jr., we seek urgent approval of this bill, amending the laws criminalizing libel," Castro said on Sunday, July 17.
"Advocates for the protection of free speech and press freedom have repeatedly pointed out that existing laws criminalizing libel is a constant threat against press freedom and free expression with even greater consequences when committed online. The affirmation of the guilty verdict against Ressa and Santos is a clear example of how the law can be used against the media and even ordinary citizens and forced to be silenced," she continued.
"The contentious provisions of RA 10175 already cast a chilling effect over the exercise of free expression online. The Duterte administration was rampant in attacking critics to silence all kinds of dissent. It will not be surprising if the administration of Marcos Jr. will do the same as what his father did to dissenters of anti-people policies. Laws have been weaponized to curtail criticisms, analysis and even simple thoughts on its policies and the slightest hint of dissent would trigger the suppression of free speech and an invasion of privacy," Castro added.
Fellow Makabayan bloc members and former Bayan Muna representatives Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite, similarly sought for the decriminalization of libel in the 18th Congress through the similarly titled HB 3455.
Meanwhile, Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a similar bill during the 18th Congress, HB 1835, which sought to abolish the penalty of imprisonment in libel cases while simultaneously increasing the imposed fine.
"Press freedom is an essential component of a democratic society. A free press acts as a watchdog of the people. Instead of protecting the freedoms and rights of the people, the government uses threats and weaponizes the law to create a chilling effect in the media and the people and dissuade them from speaking out on the anti-people policies of this administration," the teacher-lawmaker concluded.