THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercitb Estrada 
While the constitution affirms the freedom of speech, of expression and of the 
press, a report conducted by a New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists in 
1996 yiel@d that mgmbers of the media in the Philippines have been continually 
subjected to harassment by the military, influential families who maintain feudal-like 
control of some areas, large corporations and even the government itself, to the point 
that even murder is committed against them. 
The report that it is in rural areas outside Metro Manila, where radio is the 
dominant medium because of an under-developed infrastructure and high illiteracy, 
where such serious abuses are pervasive. Since press people are faced with the 
dangers which go along their line of duty, while exposing the truth, especially those 
which are sensitive, controversial and emotional, it is the duty of the government to 
ensure the protection of their welfare. 
This bill then seek to amend the Revised Penal Code thus making the killing of 
members of the broadcast and print media qualified as murder punishable under'Article 
248 of the same Code. 
Immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
JERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
lntorduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
QUALIFYING THE KILLING OF MEMBERS OF BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA 
ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXERCISE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS AS SUCH, AS A 
CRIME OF MURDER PUNISHABLE UNDER ARTICLE 248 OF THE REVISED 
PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress 
_- 
assembled: 
. 
-+ - 
SECTION 1. Article two hundred forty-eight of the Revised Penal Code as 
amended by Republic Act No. 7659 is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
“ART. 248. Murder. - Any person who, not falling within the provisions of Article 246 
shall kill another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished attendant 
circumstances: 
With treachery, taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, 
or employing means to weaken the defense or of means or persons to insure or 
afford impunity; 
In consideration of a price, reward, or promise; 
By means of inundation, fire poison, explosion, shipwreck, standing of a vessel, 
derailment or assault upon a street car or locomotive, fall of an airship, by means 
of motor vehicle, or with the use of any other means involving great waste and 
run; 
On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding paragraph, or 
an earthquake, eruption of a volcano, destructive cyclone, epidemic, or any other 
public calamity; 
With evident premeditation; 
With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of the 
victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse. 
WHEN THE PERSON KILLED IS A MEMBER OF THE BROADCAST AND 
PRINT MEDIA, ON OCCASION OF THE LAWFUL EXERCISE OF HIS DUTIES 
FUNCTIONS AS SUCH MEMBER.” 


SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent the provisions of this Act hereby modified or 
repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 3. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after the lapse of fifteen (1 5) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of 
general circulation, whichever is earlier. 
Approved,