FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
I 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 
Submitted jointly by the Committees on Public Information and Mass Media and Justice and 
Human Rights on _gPR - 3 2008 
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Re: Senate Bill No. 
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill No. 1178. 
Sponsors: Senators Revilla, Jr., Escudero, and Pimentel, Jr. 
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MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committees on Public Information and Mass Media and Justice and Human Rights 
to which were referred Senate Bill No. 1178, introduced by Senator Pimentel, Jr., entitled: 
“AN ACT 
GRANTING THE RIGHT OF REPLY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATION THEREOF“ 
have considered the same and have the honor to report it back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached bill, Senate Bill No. 
, prepared by the Committees, 
entitled: 
“AN ACT 
GRANTING THE RIGHT OF REPLY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATION THEREOF” 
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill No. 1178 with Senators Pimentel, Jr., Revilla, Jr. 
and Escudero as authors thereof. 
Respectfully Submitted: 
Chairmen: 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
VILLA, JR. 
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ittee on u c Information and Mass Media 
Rights 


Committee Report on Right of Reply. 
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Vice-chairman: 
BENIGNO~IMEC~~I 
c. AQUINO 111 
Committee on Justi e and Human Rights 
Member, Committee on Public Information 
and Mass Media 
G 
GORlO B. HONASAN I1 
COMPARERA PIA S. CAYETANO 
C 
mittee on Public Information 
Committee on Public Information 
Commiffee on Justice and Human Rights 
and Mass Media 
and Mass Media 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
$ 
and Mass Media 
and Mass Media 
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and Mass Media 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPlD 
Committee on Public Information 
and Mass Media 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
ALAN PETER i
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s. CAYETANO 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 


Conimittee Report on Right ofReply. 
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Ex-Officio Members 
AQVUILINO 
Q. PIMENTEL JR. 
Minority Leader 
Hon. MANNY VILLAR 
Senate President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S.B. NO. 
(In substitution of SBN 1 178) 
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Prepared by the Committees on Public Information and Mass Media and Justice and 
Human Rights with Senators Pimentel, Jr., Revilla, Jr. and Escudero as authors 
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AN ACT 
GRANTING THE RIGHT OF REPLY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by fhe Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Right of Reply. - All persons natural or juridical who are 
accused directly or indirectly of committing or having committed or of intending to 
commit any crime or offense defined by law or are criticized by innuendo, suggestion 
or rumor for any lapse in behavior in public or private life shall have the right to reply 
to the charges published or printed in newspapers, magazines, newsletters or 
publications circulated commercially or for free, or to criticisms aired or broadcast 
over radio, television, websites, or through any electronic device. 
SEC. 2. Where Reply Published. - The reply of the person so accused or 
criticized shall be published in the same space of the newspapers, magazine, 
newsletter or publication or aired over the same program on radio, television, 
website, or any electronic device concerned. 
SEC. 3. When Published. - The reply shall be published or broadcast not 
later than three (3) days after the reply shall have been delivered to the editorial 
office of the publication concerned or to the station that carried the broadcast being 
replied to. 
SEC. 4. 
Length of Reply. - The reply shall not be longer than the 
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accusation or criticism as published or broadcast. 


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SEC. 5. Free of Charge. - The publication or broadcast of the reply shall be 
free of charge, payment or fees. 
SEC. 6. Editing Reply. - The reply as such shall be published or broadcast 
except for libelous allegations. 
SEC. 7. Penalties. - The editor-in-chief, the publisher or station manager, or 
owner of the broadcast medium who fails or refuses to publish or broadcast the reply 
as mandated in the preceding section shall be fined in an amount not exceeding Ten 
thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) for the first offense; Twenty thousand pesos 
(@20,000.00) for the second offense; and Thirty thousand pesos (P30,OOO.OO) 
for the 
third offense. 
Thereafter, for repeated failures or refusals to publish or broadcast the reply 
as mandated herein, a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (@50,000.00) shall be imposed. 
Moreover, if the offender is a public official, he shall be subject to 
administrative liability under existing Civil Service laws. 
The court may also recommend that proper sanctions be imposed by any 
appropriate mass media organizations on erring editors-in-chief, publishers, station 
managers or owners of media concerned. 
SEC. 8. Self-Regulation. - The block-timers who also fail to broadcast or 
publish the reply shall be subject to the Code of Ethics or to the realm of self- 
regulation of the neiwork or station. 
SEC. 9. Other Remedies. - The publication of the reply does not preclude 
recourse to other rights or remedies available to the party or parties concerned. 
SEC. 10. Sunset Clause. - This Act shall lapse seven (7) years after its 
approval unless Congress shall provide otherwise. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,