Int'l journalists welcome Cybercrime Law TRO, call for FOI bill passage

An international media watchdog group on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to indefinitely extend a temporary restraining order on the Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012.

 

The International Federation of Journalists said the ruling was a victory for those opposing a law that could "stifle free expression."

 

"The ruling is a victory for all those who oppose a statute that would serve to effectively stifle free expression, the free flow of information, the right to privacy and a host of other rights and freedoms," the IFJ said.

 

IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries.

 

However, the IFJ also warned opponents of the law, who it congratulated for making a "convincing" argument on why the law is unjust, against complacency.

 

It said it joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, in calling for the removal of the Anti-Cybercrime Act.

 

FOI Bill

 

Also, the IFJ called on the Philippine government to enact the Freedom Of Information bill soonest.

 

“We are concerned that the government of the Philippines continues to delay the passing of the FOI bill, which clearly stands against their stated commitment to press freedom,” IFJ said.

 

The FOI bill, which would promote transparency by providing easier access to government documents, has bleak chances of passage in Congress in the House of Representatives, though the Senate has already passed its version of the bill.

 

Both houses of Congress are to take a three-month break to give way to the campaign period for the May 13 elections. Congress will resume session in June but from June 3 to 6 before adjourning sine die. — TJD, GMA News