"Decriminalizing Libel" What is YOUR stand?

[akoaysmurf]

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Istoryans, I want to know what's you're stand on decriminalizing libel, be it affirmative or negative, I want to know your side on the matter at hand.

For me, I'm for decriminalizing libel. Why?? because libel hinders media freedom, libel is also an ancient law that is not applicable in a DEMOCRATIC country like ours. Libel also hinders us from our FREEDOM OF SPEECH, which is guaranteed to us by the constitution under article III Bill of rights.

So istoryans! let me know you're side!

[HenryLiwanag]

I still think some libel issues should be criminaly penalized. anything goes na if media or any person can say things against you without solid basis. lisod kaayo nang scenarios nga my word against your word na lang permi nga walay arbitrations....

If I may ask, are you in the media industry bro?

[k.A.i]

dili ko pabor ani.

so pede nalang diay magpataka ug sulti mga media ani nga walay basihan?

gara naman sad na.

[istoryaaah]

Gara naman gani kaau na silag balita og sayop bisag naa ning Libel unsa naba kaha og wala? Pwede ra diay sila mo ingon bisag unsa. Bati pud nig impact sa mga negosyo, kay pwede ra man diay mag black propaganda mag dinautay unya walay basihan. Naay Freedom of Speech but there's also the right to responsible broadcasting or journalism. Sakto ra na nga naa para di mag anad og pataka yaw2. Libel also protects and balances our right to privacy nga dili pwede i sabwag bisag kinsa if walay permission sa parties involve.

Diin maning balita-a nga wad-on bro?

[akoaysmurf]

FYI: there are bills pending for the congress about libel, some are seeking to abolish it completely and some are seeking only to amend it. At present,libel is punishable with imprisonment or a fine, but in most cases both go together.

Now, bills seeking to amend libel only wants to get rid of imprisonment but wants increases the fine to 100k-300k php(currently only 200-6k php)

For my side libel is used and abused by the government. Its a tool used by the people in power to silence the media, since the media are the bearers of truth or.. shall I say, the watchdogs of corruption.

I still think some libel issues should be criminaly penalized. anything goes na if media or any person can say things against you without solid basis. lisod kaayo nang scenarios nga my word against your word na lang permi nga walay arbitrations....

If I may ask, are you in the media industry bro?

No, I'm not working in the media industry... actually, I'm just a very curious student of a certain university.. ahahah

dili ko pabor ani.

so pede nalang diay magpataka ug sulti mga media ani nga walay basihan?

gara naman sad na.

Article 19 of the civil code of the Philippines states that media personnel should act with justice to observe honesty and good faith when exercising his/her rights and while performing his/her duties

Article 26 of the civil code of the Philippines SHOULD remind media personnel of their duty to respect the dignity, personality, privacy, and peace of mind of others, otherwise, they may be held liable for damages for violations.

Gara naman gani kaau na silag balita og sayop bisag naa ning Libel unsa naba kaha og wala? Pwede ra diay sila mo ingon bisag unsa. Bati pud nig impact sa mga negosyo, kay pwede ra man diay mag black propaganda mag dinautay unya walay basihan. Naay Freedom of Speech but there's also the right to responsible broadcasting or journalism. Sakto ra na nga naa para di mag anad og pataka yaw2. Libel also protects and balances our right to privacy nga dili pwede i sabwag bisag kinsa if walay permission sa parties involve.

Diin maning balita-a nga wad-on bro?

I knew someone would eventually reply with this kind of answer.

Decriminalizing libel does not mean that a person who has been libeled by the media can no longer seek redress for the wrong done to him/her. The victim has the remedy of filing an action for damages based on the Civil Code of the Philippines, such as Article 19 and Article 26.

So I shall quote myself

Article 19 of the civil code of the Philippines states that media personnel should act with justice to observe honesty and good faith when exercising his/her rights and while performing his/her duties

Article 26 of the civil code of the Philippines SHOULD remind media personnel of their duty to respect the dignity, personality, privacy, and peace of mind of others, otherwise, they may be held liable for damages for violations.

[jamesk]

libel hinders media freedom

First to answer your question, I think that libel should not be decriminalized. People should still be punished for printing false statements for defaming someone.

And, I don't think libel hinders media freedom. If what the media reports is true and verifiable, there's no libel there. I'm not a lawyer but I think it is still a requisite that the statement should be false for it to be considered libel. This just means the people working with the media should do their homework before publishing anything.

[mannyamador]

I think the requirements for libel include:

• False information
• Malicious intent
• Publication in some form

Those aren't exactly easy to achieve. Maybe the lawyers here can comment.

[HenryLiwanag]

FYI: there are bills pending for the congress about libel, some are seeking to abolish it completely and some are seeking only to amend it. At present,libel is punishable with imprisonment or a fine, but in most cases both go together.

Now, bills seeking to amend libel only wants to get rid of imprisonment but wants increases the fine to 100k-300k php(currently only 200-6k php)

For my side libel is used and abused by the government. Its a tool used by the people in power to silence the media, since the media are the bearers of truth or.. shall I say, the watchdogs of corruption.




No, I'm not working in the media industry... actually, I'm just a very curious student of a certain university.. ahahah



Article 19 of the civil code of the Philippines states that media personnel should act with justice to observe honesty and good faith when exercising his/her rights and while performing his/her duties

Article 26 of the civil code of the Philippines SHOULD remind media personnel of their duty to respect the dignity, personality, privacy, and peace of mind of others, otherwise, they may be held liable for damages for violations.



I knew someone would eventually reply with this kind of answer.

Decriminalizing libel does not mean that a person who has been libeled by the media can no longer seek redress for the wrong done to him/her. The victim has the remedy of filing an action for damages based on the Civil Code of the Philippines, such as Article 19 and Article 26.

So I shall quote myself

I think you must be taking up a subject on Phil. Consti. or social science right now. Since you are curious right now, just remember that many times, curiosity killed the cat.....

It is good though that you speak out and somehow observant of what is happening around you. Civil code or any other law for that matter are usually referred to as basis to file a case against somebody but the contents of the code are generic in nature and are not self specific. This is the reason why you have libel, slander and defamation charges which are during oral argumentation of a case being referred to as you quoted in the civil code.

In a simple analogy, mora ni ug tartanilya ug kabayo - dili pwede mag una ang tartanilya sa kabayo.

[the Messenger]

I'm against decriminalizing libel. Doing otherwise will give politicians, media and other entities the license to speak irresponsibly (and misinforming the public more).

Check and balance tawon ni sya sa ato freedom of speech.

freedom - responsibility = chaos

P.S.

TS, assignment ni nimo, bro? Murag pang Pol Sci kaayo.

[cottonmouth]

@akoaysmurf: Art. 19 & 26 sounds downright easy, isn't it? But in the real world, you can kiss those laws goodbye. Did the name Bombo Radyo ever crossed your eardrums?

"With greater power comes greater responsibility". Unfortunately, people (esp. the media) becomes drunk first with the power before they come to know Mr. Responsibility.

"The Libel law" is a safeguard against abuse coz freedom is not absolute. Your freedom ends when the right of the other person starts.

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

+James 3: 6-8+