Many senators favor decriminalizing libel – Recto

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ralph Recto said Monday that many of his colleagues are in favor of decriminalizing libel.

Senator Ralph Recto: ‘My position is to decriminalize libel.’ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“My position is to decriminalize libel … many in the Senate I think are in favor of decriminalizing [libel],” Recto told reporters after a hearing on the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175).

He said that the libel in the anti-cybercrime law and the Revised Penal Code (RPC) both have to be repealed because “even if you remove the provision in the cybercrime law, you can still be sued under the RPC, it should be [both].”

Representatives from the private and public sectors gave their views against the anti-cybercrime law Monday saying it infringes on the basic human right on freedom of expression.

Lawyer Gilbert Andress of the Non-government organization Media Defense Southeast Asia said during the hearing that online libel violates the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that the Philippines signed in 1966 and ratified 1986.

Recto said that a Senate bill establishing a Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom is currently being studied and might even be broken down into four components because it is too complex and technical.

“This requires a very long discussion …  it’s a very complex issue,” he said and noting it could be tackled separately into the topics of development, governance, security, and rights.

“If a senator has the power to speak and cannot be sued for libel or imprisoned, [when making privilege speeches] they why can’t the ordinary [Filipino]?” Recto said.

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