SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
SBNo.l'16 
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JUL--l 
P4:16 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 
yielded that members of the media in the Philippines have been continually subjected to 
harassment by the military; Media should be given priority with the work and dedication 
that they provide the country. 
We have to protect our media industry in order to control and continue to receive 
important information's that would be utilize and useful to out country's progress. 
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 this bill is earnestly sought. 
NG REVILLA, JR. 


..i'ennt~ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
(\lif,;, of HI' ,~rt1',.t"'¥ 
'13 
JUL -1 
P 4 :16 
SENATE 
., , 3Y'-f I 
SBNo.l'iS 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
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 Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article two hundred forly-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: 
I) While 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, 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; 
4) 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; 
5) With evident premeditation; . 
6) With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering 
of the victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse; 
7) WHEN THE PERSON KILLED IS A MEMBER OF THE 
BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA, ON OCCASION OF THE 
LAWFUL EXERCISE OF IDS DUTIES FUNCTIONS AS SUCH 
MEMBER." 
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, . 
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 (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of 
general circulation, whichever is earlier. 
Approved. 
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