FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 455 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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, influential families who 
maintain feudal-like control of some areas, large corporations and even the 
government itself, to the point that even murder is committed against them. 
The report that it is in rural areas outside Metro Manila, where radio is the 
dominant medium because of an under-developed infrastructure and high 
illiteracy, where such serious abuses are pervasive. 
Since press people are 
faced with the dangers which go along their line of duty, while exposing the truth, 
especially those which are sensitive, controversial and emotional, it is the duly of 
the government to ensure the protection of their welfare. 
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. 
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 
rt~· 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE; REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
,S E N AT E 
Senate Bill No. 455 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
. ANACT 
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 forty-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: 
1) 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 premediation; 
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 HIS DUTIES FUNCTIONS AS 
SUCH MEMBER." 
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,