By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill, decriminalizing libel and imposing a fine of P5,000 to P30,000 and specifying the venue of the civil action in libel cases involving community journalists, publications, or broadcast stations.
“While it is right of individuals to be protected from irresponsible reporting or commentary imprisonment is not a just penalty for such. Civil damages may be enough penalty and deterrence,” Estrada said.
Estrada emphasized the necessity of adding a new clause to the Revised Penal Code that would specify where civil lawsuits involving libel would be heard.
Instead of jail time, which can vary from six months to six years for libel committed through writing or similar means, Estrada suggested imposing fines ranging from P10,000 to P30,000.
Instead of imprisonment, which currently ranges from one month to six months, Estrada suggested imposing a fine of P5,000 to P15,000 on any reporter, editor, or manager of a newspaper, daily, or magazine who publishes facts related to someone’s private life that are offensive to their honor, virtue, and reputation.
Libel is a criminal offense under Article 353 of the RPC which refers to the public and malicious imputation of a crime, vice, or defect, whether real or imaginary, that has the potential to harm someone’s reputation or tarnish the memory of a deceased individual.
(el Amigo/MNM)
