Marcos urged to decriminalize libel, pass FOI law, end red-tagging

Several media organizations have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize decriminalizing libel, eliminating red-tagging, and enacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) law as he is set to deliver his third State of the Nation Address on Monday.

The statement was released on Sunday by the convenors of the 1st PH Media Safety Summit, which included the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Philippine Press Institute.

Several measures have been filed in Congress to decriminalize libel such as Senate Bill 1593 or the “Decriminalization of Libel Act” and House Bill 5372 or the “Act to Abolish the Penalty of Imprisonment in Libel Cases” that are still pending. 

The group also urged Marcos to push for the removal of a provision in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022 that states that journalists may be witnesses in drug cases.

“For as long as this provision is not removed, journalists are at risk of being cited for contempt or subjected to arrest warrants for not showing up in courts as witnesses in drug cases,” the group said.

The group also urged Marcos to push for the FOI law as it will develop transparency in government transactions.

Under Executive Order 2 of the Duterte administration, access to FOI is limited to the offices under the Executive Branch.

“The President himself said it in April: 'The principal role of the press is not to applaud those who govern, but you hold us accountable, without holding back in giving praise to those who deserve it. Along with that stance is our collective goal of protecting the welfare and lives of journalists,” the group said.

“Now is the time for Mr. Marcos to keep his promise and include efforts to ensure a 'truly free and safe environment for all journalists' in his SONA legislative priority,” they added.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL, GMA Integrated News