Nograles, the press freedom advocate?
A staunch Arroyo ally at the House of Representatives has filed a bill proposing for the abolition of the penalty of imprisonment for libel but increasing the fines for the offense.
According to Rep. Prospero Nograles (Lakas, 1st Dist., Davao City), author of House Bill 2802 , the proposed measure “aims to encourage the media to be more vigilant and active in their crusade against graft and corruption.”
Here is a news release on Nograles’s bill from the website of House of Representatives:
No more jail for libel
Source: House of Representatives
Nov. 19, 2007
A lawmaker has proposed the abolition of the penalty of imprisonment in libel case but instead increase the penalty of fine.
House Bill 2802 authored by Rep. Prospero Nograles (Lakas, 1st Dist., Davao City) increases, however, the fine for libel from P200 to P 6,000 to P20,000 to P50,000, amending Republic Act 3815 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.
In filing the bill, Nograles said the imposition of a higher but reasonable set of fines is enough to make the media practitioners more cautious in their exposes but still keeping with the Constitutional protection of the individual’s freedom of speech.
According to Nograles, media had been a powerful tool in the deterrence of all forms of abuses, graft and corruption and other irregularities in both private and public sector but the penalty of imprisonment in libel cases discourages most media men in their exposes against abusive officials.
Read here for more.
Here is the Inquirer.net account:
Bill scrapping jail but hiking fines for libel filed
MANILA, Philippines — A bill that does away with imprisonment for libel but increasing the fines for the offense has been filed at the House of Representatives.
Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles said he filed House Bill 202 to encourage media to be more vigilant and active in their crusade against graft and corruption.
While media has been a powerful tool in the deterrence of all forms of abuses, graft and corruption and other irregularities in both the private and public sector, Nograles said the penalty of imprisonment in libel cases discourages many from exposing abusive officials.
Read here for more.
Interestingly, while his bill proposes to do away with imprisonment for libel, Nograles sued a Davao-based journalist for libel, resulting in the imprisonment of the journalist last February.
PJR Reports reporter Jose Bimbo F. Santos wrote about the issue in the April 2007 issue of the magazine. Among the court cases involving journalists, the case of jailed radio broadcaster Alex Adonis is probably “among the most disturbing because of the circumstances and the eventual outcome,” wrote Santos. Santos is also the press alerts officer of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
Loses libel case filed by congressman
Broadcaster Lands in Jail
by Jose Bimbo F. Santos
Murphy’s Law is at work in the case of radio commentator Alex Adonis. Penniless and abandoned by his lawyer and employer, the former Bombo Radyo broadcaster is now languishing in jail for libel.
Adonis was convicted of libel for reporting that Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles (1st district) ran naked in a hotel in Manila after the woman’s husband allegedly caught them in bed in July 2001. The story was broadcast by Bombo Radyo in General Santos City.
The Manila-based tabloid Abante Tonite picked up the reported incident, which became known as the “Burlesk King” scandal.
Nograles denied the incident. Aside from Adonis, he also sued Dan Vicente, Bombo Radyo station manager, and Abante Tonite for libel.
Read here for more.
I hope Nograles is serious about this.
I think the removal of penal provisions or jail terms will be a good step but this will be compromised a lot by the imposition of bigger fines.
Maybe CMFR and NUJP should send Nograles materials on progressive defamation laws as suggested by groups like the IFJ.
the congressman from davao is just trying to impress the public with this political gimick as he has been in the local limelight again for being accused of sending a local broadcaster in jail for telling the truth about his escapades with a local media/entertainment personality in a posh hotel in manila where he was caught unguarded and undressed…he is just trying to get the sympathy of the people of davao as he will be running for the mayoralty in 2010…well congboy, you are too late