! I .  .* 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF TEE PHILJZPINES 
) 
) 
;P 
JIJN 30 P2:5i 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 165 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article 11 1 of the Bill of Rights Section 4 provides that 
“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, 
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress 
of grievances”. 
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by a government of free public press for its 
citizens and their association, extended to members of news gathering organizations, and 
their published reporting. It also extended to news gathering and processes involved in 
obtaining information for public distribution. 
Freedom of the press implies that all people should have the right to express 
themselves in writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity. 
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights indicates: “Everyone h a y  fhe rzgtzt to 
freedom of opinion and eqres.sion; this right includes$zedoin to hold opinions without 
interfrence and to seek, receive, and i?tpart inforitiaiion and ideas through any media 
regardless offrontiers”. 
Republic Act No. 53 as amended, otherwise known as Sotto law was enacted to 
protect the newspaper journalist for being compelled to name his news source but, look 
again the law does not mention broadcast journalist. 
The Sotto Law, Republic Act No. 53 “An Act Exempting the Publisher, Editor or 
Reporter of any Publication from Revealing the Source ofhblished News or Information 
Obtained in Confidence” protects journalist from being compelled to reveal their news 
source. It is silent about radio or TV journalist. The rule on interpreting statutes is that 
what is not included is considered excluded Sotto law was named after Cebuano 
journalist Vicente Sotto “the father” of Gebuano jo~malist~ 
Stwattre and language; i&,fp 
was jailed for months over an article he printed in his newspaper. 
This bill seeks to amend the Sotto Law to include broadcast and Internet media in 
the privilege statute allowing journalist to decline from revealin? his OF her s o ~ ~ e  
ex~ept 
when the court or Cojlgress finds the revelation necessary for natlonal security. 
The amendment will give them the same protection: “the journalist cannot be 
compelled to reveal the source of my news item, news repm 01 iaFocm,tiofi r,cp3& 
disseminated in the media which was relafed in confidence to the journalist.” 


The fear of broadcast journalist and other media practitioners of being taken to 
court for rehsing to reveal sources of news and articles or commentaries will soon be 
over. 
The bill will not only strengthen the confidence of journalist in broadcast, news 
agencies and in the Internet sector but will recognize the important role they play, 
alongside print reporters, and in nation building. 
The reasons for this rule is that the identity of sources of a confidential news 
report or information must he protected otherwise the spring of data for news 
commentary, abridge expressions and unalloyed pleasure dries up and the mission of the 
press to check and balance and expose wrongdoing is defeated. 
Hence early approval of this bill is highly recommended 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
7 JUN 30 i’2 :!?I 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
165 
Introduced by Senator RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 53, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS AN ACT TO EXEMPT THE PUBLISHER, EDITOR OR 
REPORTER OF ANY PUBLICATION FROM REVEXLING THE SOURCE OF 
PUBLISHED NEWS OR INFORMATION OBTAmD IN CONFIDENCE BY, 
INCLUDING WITHIN ITS COVERAGE, JOURNALISTS FROM BROADCAST, 
NEWS AGENClES AND INTERNET PUBLICATIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represenfatwe of the Phzlzppznes zn 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No 53, as mended, is hereby hrther 
amended as follows 
“Section 1. Without prejudice to his liability under the civil and 
criminal laws, [the publisher, editor, columnist or duly accredited 
reporter of any newspaper, magazine or periodical of general 
circulation cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news- 
report or information appearing in said publication which was 
related in confidence to such publisher, editor or reporter unless 
the court as or a House or committee of Congress] A DULY 
ACCREDITED 
JOURNALIST 
OF 
ANY 
PRINT, 
BROADCAST, 
INTERNET, 
OR 
WIRE 
SERVICE 
ORGANIZATION, 
INCLUDING 
THE 
PUBLISHER, 
STATION OWNER AND/OR MANAGER, BUREAU CHIEF, 
EDITOR, NEWS EDITOR, WRITER OR REPORTER, 
CORRESPONDENT, 
OPINION 
COLUMNIST 
OR 
COMMENTATOR, CARTOONIST, PHOTOGRAPHER, OR 
OTHER PRACTITIONER INVOLVED IN THE WRITING, 
EDITING, COMMENTING OF TRE NEWS FOR MASS 
CIRCULATION CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO FUCVEAL 
THE SOURCE OF ANY NEWS ITEM, NEWS REPORT OR 
INFORMATION APPEARING OR BEING REPORTED OR 
DISSIMINATED I N  SAID m D I A ,  WHICH WAS RELATED 
IN 
CONFIDENCE 
TO 
SUCH 
JOURNALIST 
OR 
PRACTITIONER UNLESS TEE COURT OR THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE SENATE OR ANY OF 
ITS COMMITTEES finds that such revelation is demanded by 
the security of the state.” 


SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - AI1 laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified. 
SECTION 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,