NUJP hits draft federal charter’s provision on freedom of speech

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) strongly opposed on Tuesday the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Constitutional Amendment’s proposed change to the 1987 Constitution’s provision on freedom of speech.

House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro proposed to insert the word “responsible” in Article III, Section 4 of the Constitution, making it: “No law shall be passed abridging the ‘responsible exercise’ of freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

The NUJP slammed the proposal, calling it “stupid” as it would “enshrine prior restraint as part of the basic law of the land and spell the end of the inalienable rights and freedoms this particular provision seeks to protect.”

“Shame on Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro for defending this abomination by claiming that this time, if you go around, there is so much abuse of this freedom, they think it is unrestrained,” NUJP said in a statement.

“If those supposed to protect and promote our most basic liberties can deign to snatch these away through such devious means, it is not farfetched to suspect that they intend to turn the Constitution into an abomination to enslave, not free, much less protect us,” it added.

Prior restraint, under the law, is the official government restrictions on the press or other forms of expression in advance of actual publication or dissemination.

The NUJP called on independent journalists, the rest of its colleagues in the media, and fellow citizens to “come together and discuss how we can prevent this brazen attempt to hijack democracy.”

“Let us resolve to take common action lest we again lose everything,” NUJP said. /je