REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8468

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill of Rights, Article II] of the 1987 Constitution provides that:

“Section 4. 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.”

While the aforestated indicates that the government ensures the protection of the right to
free speech, expression, and of the press, members of broadcast and print media still suffer from
continued harassment, threats, and even death from influential political families, mega corporations,
and the National Government itself for speaking truth to power over the abuses and corruption of
these entities.

The press plays a vital role as the mouthpiece of those who have been silenced, oppressed,
or beaten to submission. They speak of the evils that nobody seems to notice or even care for and
this places them on the sights of degenerate men who would prefer that they keep their silence as
they continue to do their usual dirty business. Knowing this and acknowledging that a free press is
critical in maintaining a strong and vibrant democracy, it must therefore be the Government's
imperative to protect the right of the press to shine light on the undiscovered truths of the country.

Under this proposed measure, the Revised Penal Code shall be amended to include the
killing of the broadcast and print media members as murder punishable under Article 248 of the
same Code.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Ceraueune

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8468

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
QUALIFYING THE KILLING OF MEMBERS OF BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA ON
THE OCCASION OF THE EXERCISE OF THEIR FUNCTION 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 Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION I. Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 7659
is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Article 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 by reclusion temporal
in its maximum period to death, if committed with any of the following attendant
circumstances:

1. 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.

2. In consideration of a price, reward, or promise.

3. By means of inundation, fire, poison, explosion, shipwreck, stranding of a

vessel, derailment or assault upon a street car or locomotive, fall of an
airship, by means of motor vehicles, or with the use of any other means
involving great waste and ruin,

4. On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding
paragraph, or of an earthquake, eruption of a volcano, destructive cyclone,
epidemic or other public calamity.

5. With evident premeditati

6. With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of
the victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse.


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Secwir.) 4

7. WHEN THE PERSON KILLED IS A MEMBER OF THE
BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA, ON OCCASION OF THE
LAWFUL EXERCISE OF HIS DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS AS SUCH
MEMBER.

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause.—All laws, executive orders, executive issuances, or letters of
instructions, or any part thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,