Lacson wants to decriminalize libel, ‘more teeth’ to civil liabilities

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — A “sword of Damocles” should no longer be hung over the heads of journalists, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson said as he vowed to spearhead any move to decriminalize libel.

However, Lacson said there should be “more teeth” to civil liabilities.

“For the media in general, I will support any move and even spearhead a move to decriminalize libel. This is a perennial problem. But ito yung [this is the] catch, i-decriminalize natin [let’s decriminalize] but we’ll put in more teeth doon sa [to] civil liabilities. Because after all, you should be responsible enough with what you are writing or broadcasting,” he told reporters in a press conference here.

“So alisin natin ‘yung [So let us remove the] criminal aspect pero dagdagan natin yung [but be more strict with] civil liabilities,” he added.

“Meaning pwede kayong pagmultahin ng hanggang [erring journalists could be fined up to] P100 million, joke lang [just kidding],” he said.

Under the Revised Penal Code, libel is punishable by imprisonment of six months to six years.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, or Republic Act No. 10175, on the other hand, punishes the crime of libel committed through the use of the internet.

“Yung pag-spearhead o pag-support ng [The spearheading or support for the] move to decriminalize, it’s about time. Because…in this day and age of this modern information technology, wala na dapat ‘yung mga laging merong naka-hang na [there should be no more hanging of the] sword of Damocles, so to speak, over the heads of our media people,” Lacson continued.

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