MANILA -- Press Secretary Jesus Dureza expressed support on Sunday for the "right to reply" bill, but he said that with or without it, media owners and executives should give people criticized or attacked in the media a chance to air their side.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said it was "good" such a bill was being worked out in Congress and was likely to be passed before the Christmas break. The bill was approved last June in the Senate.

"But law or no law, it’s the obligation of newspapers to give equal opportunity, especially those on the receiving end of criticisms and attacks," Dureza said over government station Radyo ng Bayan.

"Actually, you don’t need a law for this," he said, reminding media organizations of their "duty" and "obligation" to always give "equal opportunity" to a person criticized to reply.

A former journalist and publisher, Dureza said "you don’t convict a person by publicity."

He said it was particularly important to allow government officials to reply when criticized or attacked in the media.

"When you smear his integrity unduly and then later find out that the report against him is not correct and he is not given the chance to reply, you strike at the very heart of his reason for being," Dureza said.

The press secretary also said he did not think the "right to reply" bill would restrict freedom of the press.

"When you require a reporter, a newspaper or a media organization to allow another person to give his side, there is no restriction of freedom. They’re free to report whatever they want but there is an equal obligation to give the other person’s side. In fact, it enhances that freedom by providing certain safeguards," he added.

Last June, the Senate passed on third and final reading Senate bill No. 2150. The House is set to deliberate on second reading House bill No. 3306 and may pass it on third and final reading before the Christmas break.

The House measure, which is authored by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, seeks to punish the publisher and editor in chief of a publication, or the owner and station manager of a broadcast medium if they fail to give equal treatment to a complainant’s reply to a specific report.

Media organizations have vowed to challenge in court the right to reply bill if it is passed in Congress, saying the measure violates the freedom of the press and free expression.