FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to qualify the killing of members of broadcast and print media in 
the performance of their duties as a crime of murder to protect them on the occasion of 
the lawful exercise of their functions. 
According to a study made by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, 
there have been 28 journahts and media practitioners killed in the line of duty since 
2001. These reported killings have brought undue attention on the country’s state of 
press freedom, supposedly one of the freest in the world. We cannot havc.that in a 
republican democratic state where democracy is primarily infringed on the freedom of 
speech and of expression, and where media is considered the Fourth Estate. 
There is a need to stop these useless killings and protect members of the media in 
the discharge of their functions. This bill addresses such need by classifying the killing 
of a member of the media while in the lawful exercise of his or her duties as a crime of 
murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
\ 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
QUALIFYING THE KILLING OF MEMBERS OF BROADCAST AND PRINT 
MEDIA IN THE LAWFUL 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 the House of Representatives of the Republic 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 ard shall be 
punished by reclusion perpetua to death, if committed with any of the 
following attendant circumstances: 
1) With 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 ruin; 
4) On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding 
paragraphs 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 HIS DUTIES OR 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 are 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) newspapers of 
general circulation, whichever is earlier. 
Approved,