14th Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"In a society in which there is no law, and in theory 
no compulsion, the only arbiter or behavior is public 
opinion. But public opinion, because of the tremendous 
urge to conforMtiy in gregafious animals, is less tolerant 
t b u  any other syskem of-#aw." 
- George Orwell 
Justice Malcolm once wrote that public opinion should be the constant 
source of liberty and democracy rising superior to any official, or set of officials, 
to the Chief Executive, to the Legislature, to the Judiciary. The value placed on 
public opinion is enshrined in our Constitution which guarantees freedom of 
expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. However, the interest 
of society demands not merely the right to express one's thoughts but the right 
to an educated and enlightened public opinion. Essential to the protection of the 
freedom of expression is the promotion of a full discussion of public affairs. The 
freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution necessarily 
embraces a correlative right of reply, which is the right to reply to every form of 
expression proteeted under the ConTBtution, especially to accusations or 
criticisms putdished or &wi W q h  the mass media. 
This Act enables all persons to equitably exercise their right of reply in 
the field of broadcast and print media and protects its exercise by providing 
penalties for violation of such right. 
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i4th Congress of the Republic . ) 
7 
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of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
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1 
AN ACT 
GRANTPNG THE RIGHT OF REPLY AND 
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. R i m &  reply. -A![ 
persons natslral or juridical who are 
accused dfrecily OF indirectly of committing, having committed OF 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 criticisms aired 
or broadcast over radio, television, websites, or through any electronic device. 
SECTION 2. Where reply published. -- The reply of the person so 
accused QT criticized shall be published in the same space of the newspapers, 
magazine, newsletter or $&Ration or aired over the Same program on radio, 
television, website, OF through any electronic device. 
SECTION 3. When. 
published. -- Is shall published or broadcast not 
later than one day 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. 
SECTION 4. Length of Reply. - The reply shall not be longer than 
the accusatim or criticism as published or broadcast. 


SECTION 5. Fret? of Charge. - The publication or broadcasting pf the 
reply shall free of charge, payment or fees. 
SECTION 
(5. 
Editing Reply. -- The reply shall be published or 
broadcast except for libelous allegations. 
SECfZBN 7. PemMS, - The editor-in-chief and the publisher or 
station manager and 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 P10,OOO for the first offense; P20,OOO for the 
second offense; and P30,OOO and imprisonment for not more than 30 days for 
the third offense. 
SECTION 8. The publication of the reply does not preclude recourse to 
other rights or remedies available to the party or parties concerned. 
SECTEON 9. TMs M shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation.