EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez _

2837

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 2275 during the 15" Congress
where it was approved by the Committee on Public Information and substituted by House Bill
No. 4262. It was again re-filed during the 16" Congress where it was consolidated into
House Bill 362. It was re-filed during the 17" Congress.

Every democratic nation today recognizes the value of freedom of the press. The
recognition and respect for this freedom is the very essence of democracy. Uncensored
public discussion is a necessary condition in a society enjoying the bounty of a free and
democratic State. Hence, freedom of the press is founded on the assumption that the widest
possible dissemination .of information from diverse, and perhaps even “antagonistic”
sources is essential for the enhancement and projection of the welfare and interest of the
people. Indeed, government can be responsive to the will of the people only when free
debate and unhampered exchange of ideas become the hallmark of the State.

In the Philippines, freedom of the press is a right protected by no less than the
Constitution. At the very core of the right is the liberty to discuss publicly and truthfully all
matters of public interest without prior censorship or subsequent punishment. It signifies the
freedom of a person to communicate with other members of the body politic.

It was in this liberal spirit that the Legislature enacted Republic Act No. 53 in 1946.
The Act exempted the publisher, editor, columnist, or duly accredited reporter of any
newspaper, magazine or periodical of general circulation from being compelled to reveal the
‘source of any news report or information appearing in said publication which was related in
confidence to such publisher, editor or reporter, unless the court or a House or committee of
Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State.

As in the case of anything good, Republic Act No. 53 had already outgrown its
usefulness, so to speak. It would have been a very good law if only it anticipated the growth
and development of mass media. Unfortunately, only members of the print media are
covered under its provisions.

It is beyond doubt that included within the concept of the "press" are such vehicles of
communications as radio, television and printed publications. Republic Act No. 53, therefore,
failed to cope with the exigencies of modernization. In view of the foregoing, early passage
of this bill is earnestly sought.

1S B. RO}

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodric

2837

House Bill No.

AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 53, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT
TO EXEMPT THE PUBLISHER, EDITOR OR REPORTER OF ANY PUBLICATION FROM
REVEALING THE SOURCE OF PUBLISHED NEWS OR INFORMATION OBTAINED IN
CONFIDENCE”, BY INCLUDING WITHIN ITS COVERAGE JOURNALISTS FROM
BROADCAST, NEWS AGENCIES AND INTERNET PUBLICATIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 53, as amended, is hereby further amended to

read as follows:

“SECTION 1. Without prejudice to his liability under the
civil and criminal taws, [the publisher, editor, columnist or
duly accredited reporter of any newspaper, magazine or
periodical of general circulation cannot be compelled to
reveal the source of any news-report or information
appearing in said publication which was related
confidence to such publisher, editor or reporter unless the
court or a House or Committee of Congress] A DULY
ACCREDITED JOURNALIST OF ANY LEGITIMATE
PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET, OR WIRE SERVICE
ORGANIZATION, STATION OR NETWORK, INCLUDING
THE PUBLISHER, STATION OWNER AND/OR
MANAGER, BUREAU CHIEF, EDITOR, NEWS EDITOR,
WRITER OR REPORTER, CORRESPONDENT, OPINION
COLUMNIST OR COMMENTATOR, CARTOONIST,
PHOTOGRAPHER, OR OTHER PRACTITIONER
INVOLVED IN THE GATHERING, WRITING, EDITING
OF, OR COMMENTING ON THE NEWS FOR MASS
CIRCULATION OR BROADCAST CANNOT BE
COMPELLED TO REVEAL THE SOURCE OF ANY
NEWS ITEM, NEWS REPORT OR INFORMATION
APPEARING OR BEING REPORTED, DISSEMINATED
OR COMMENTED ON IN SAID MEDIA, WHICH WAS
RELAYED IN CONFIDENCE TO SUCH JOURNALIST OR
PRACTITIONER UNLESS THE COURT OR THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE SENATE OR ANY OF
ITS COMMITTEES finds that such revelation is demanded

by the security of the State.”

SEC. 2. Insert a new Section 2 after Section 1 of Republic Act No. 53, as amended, to read

as follows:


“SEC. 2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, A DULY
ACCREDITED JOURNALIST OR PRACTITIONER OF
ANY LEGITIMATE PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET,
OR WIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION, STATION OR
NETWORK, IS ONE WHO IS ACCREDITED WITH ANY
REPUTABLE ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA PERSONS
SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE PHILIPPINE
INFORMATION AGENCY-PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE (PIA-
PCOO), THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (NPC), THE
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES (NUJP), AND THE KAPISANAN NG MGA
BROADKASTER NG PILIPINAS (KBP), AND/OR ONE
WHO IS A REGULAR EMPLOYEE OF A LEGITIMATE
PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET, OR WIRE SERVICE
ORGANIZATION, STATION OR NETWORK: PROVIDED,
THAT ANY JOURNALIST ENGAGED BY ANY
LEGITIMATE MEDIA COMPANY SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE AN ACCREDITED JOURNALIST.”

SEC. 3. Any law, decree, ordinance, rule or regulation inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act is hereby amended or repealed,

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
and/or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,