SENATE deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros yesterday sought to decriminalize libel as she noted how the law has been “used and abused” to suppress press freedom and the right of individuals to free speech and information.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1593, Hontiveros lamented that “libel laws have been used and abused by private parties to advance their various interests and by public personalities to shield themselves from scrutiny, even on matters of public concern.”
“Our libel laws have been weaponized to stifle very basic fundamental rights. These laws have been used to constantly attack many of our freedoms, but particularly the freedom of the press. We need to decriminalize libel if we are to truly defend press freedom,” Hontiveros said.
The senator said that the rise and prevalence of social media platforms as a primary medium of communication has led to the further weaponization of libel laws against the press and even netizens.
She likewise noted that the high number of cyber libel cases has resulted in the clogging of court dockets.
“Further, the avalanche of cyber libel cases has only resulted in the clogging of our court dockets. The abundance of litigation spurred by socmed private citizens (from restaurants litigating against patrons who left unpleasant reviews, to homeowners disagreeing in Viber groups, to parents fighting with teachers on social media) all collectively contribute to the overburdening of both the executive and judicial branches and the draining of their respective resources,” she said.
Hontiveros also pointed out that members of legitimate media organizations who are doing their jobs have been the common respondents in libel cases in apparent bids to silence them.
