Legislation Archives - CMFR

We will not surrender our freedoms

Today, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.

Covering the Pandemic

Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic

The Silent Media

Native Advertising: Not just a Problem of One

Dumaguete Radioman Acquitted of Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A local radio anchor was acquitted on charges of two counts of libel on 30 June 2017 in Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, 639.56 kilometers south of Manila. Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo filed libel charges against dyMD Energy FM anchor Cornelio...

Public Service Broadcasting: Will It Work in the Philippines?

THE NEW administration has well demonstrated its political will in certain aspects of governance. The public continues to support its initiatives. This same determination is about to transform government media and communication agencies, according to the new Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. In an interview in ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC)...

Congressional Franchises as a Weapon to Control a Free Press

DURING THE last campaign, quite a number of supporters of now President-elect Rodrigo Duterte complained about the bias of the Philippine press against him. They particularly singled out ABS-CBN 2, the largest network, for reports that consistently showed him in a negative light. It has not helped that Duterte...

Mayoralty Candidate Sues Journalists for Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A candidate for mayor of Dapa, Surigao Del Norte has filed libel charges against several local journalists over a report on her supposed “swindling” of the residents of a barangay (village) in Surigao del Norte province. Surigao del Norte is approximately 1146 kilometers South of Manila....

Criminal Libel Suits Against Journalists

A journalist was convicted of libel and another arrested in the Philippines on the same charge in less than two months. But two other libel cases against media workers were dismissed during the same period. Libel is still a criminal offense in the Philippines despite calls for its decriminalization....

R2KRN STATEMENT: FOI bill is dead, FOI practice lives

THE FOI Bill is dead. We put the blame squarely on President Aquino and the leadership of the House of Representatives.

R2KRN STATEMENT: Speaker’s support for FOI mere lip service

AT AROUND the time that the Senate approved the FOI bill on Third Reading in March 2014, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte boldly proclaimed: “Ang ipinangako ko talaga is during the 16th Congress. Bitayin ninyo ako kung matapos ito at hindi pa nakakapasa.”

R2KRN STATEMENT: Committee Chair, Authors and Champions Ready for Second ReadingWill the House Leadership Give Time for FOI?

TODAY, WE give way to the statement below by House Committee on Public Information Chairperson Rep. Jorge Almonte and the House FOI champions and authors. They released the statement yesterday during their briefing for the press at the House of Representatives.

R2KRN STATEMENT: House FOI Committee Report Filed!

FOI Tracker No. 3: On May 25, 2015 the House Committee on Public Information filed the Committee Report on FOI.

R2KRN STATEMENT: FOI Losing Time, High Prioritization Essential

COMMITTEE ON Public Information Chairperson Jorge T. Almonte and House FOI (Freedom of Information) champions and authors were scheduled to file the Committee Report on the FOI Bill with the Secretary General of the House of Representative last Wedneday, May 20, at 3:30 pm. However, at around 2:00 pm,...