NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
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 journalists 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 have 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.  
In 2018, Filipino journalists still continue to face online harassment, violence and 
various threats, according to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. From 2016 to 
2018 alone, there have been 12 cases of media killings. 
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. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
March 16, 2023
7:00 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
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 and 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/HER DUTIES OR
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 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.