Senate ratifies bill amending ‘Sotto law’

(File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday ratified the proposed amendments to the so-called Sotto Law, which would allow not only journalists in print media but also in broadcast and online media to refuse to reveal confidential sources.

Senate Bill No. 1255, which amends Republic Act (RA) No. 53 — or the Shield law or Sotto law — extends the coverage of the law to broadcast and online media, and their variants, as RA 53 only covers publisher, editor, columnist and accredited reporters of print media.

Bill sponsor Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, earlier said that the expansion of the law would cover the accredited journalists, writers, reporters, contributors, opinion writers, editors, managers, producers, news directors, webmasters, cartoonists, and other media practitioners involved in writing, editing, producing, and disseminating news for mass circulation through various media —print, broadcasts, wire service organization, or electronic mass media, including but not limited to the internet and cable TV and its variant.

READ: Senate approves expanded Sotto law

RA 53 was authored by the Sen. Vicente Yap Sotto, the late grandfather of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

The Senate President lauded the expansion of the 70-year old law.

“We wish to thank [Senator Grace Poe] for the improvement of the Sotto Law,” the Senate President said during the upper chamber’s session on Monday.

Once ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the bill will be sent to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)