MANILA: A bill seeking to decriminalise libel has been filed in the Senate.
In Senate Bill 3374, Senator Teofisto Guingona III said freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental and cherished freedoms in a democratic society.
“This bill proposes to remove imprisonment as a penalty for libel because the threat of jail time sends a sufficient chilling effect on the freedom of expression,” he said.
The bill aims to repeal Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code criminalising libel.
Guingona said a democratic and free country must promote and protect the right of the people to express themselves.
“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances,” he said, quoting the Bill of Rights.
Guingona said Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights supports the Bill of Rights.
Under the Covenant, everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference; everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, and this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
The Philippine star
