twentieth congress of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JIJL 14 iiiO 33
SENATE
S. No. 476
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING6 F0RE THENVeVuE0 of1 MTHREISC0,VnE,lT 1N UBEL CASES ANt> 
AGAINST COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS pisLICA^nNQ LIBEL CASES 
STATIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOS^CMmIm 
BROADCAST
NO. 3815, OTHERWISE 
0f ACT
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOMS T E RE KED PENAL C0DE- AS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is perceived as one of the most dangerous places in the
world for journalists, with numerous cases of killings against media practitioners in 
recent years.
In the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2022 Global Impunity Index 
which calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage 
of each country's population, the Philippines ranked 7»' in the world with 14 
unsolved murdersT This ranking improved in the 2024 Global Impunity Index 
where the Philippines ranked 9« in the world with 18 unsolved murders 
However, it was still noted that, "The Philippines, also on the index every year 
since 2008 and frequently in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot, has logged an unsolved 
murder of a journalist almost every year since 1992. Full justice remains 
elusive for the 32 reporters and media workers killed in the Maguindanao
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massacre 15 years ago - one of the deadliest attacks on the press - as well 
as journal,sts Irke Gerry Ortega, a radio broadcaster killed in 2011."^ Between
cpj has recorded fifty (so) ~
evaluates e J 
t0 2°23 W°r,d PreSS Freed0m IndeX Which
r T2 G ::Tent f0r j0Urna,iSm in 180 C0UntrieS'the 
ranked 132^-
wrth 46.21 Global Score - or an improvement from the previous year's 147-^
freedom TJ'84 G°bal SCOre' “ th3t: "The 1987 C“n
e press but, in practice, Philippine law does not protect the free
exercise of journalism.-^ m 2024, the country slipped down by two (2) ranks.
Standing 134th in the world with 43.36 Global Score.5
It does not help that while journalists are under attack, the domestic legal 
tamework poses another serious threat - through imprisonment due to libel, which 
■S currently a criminal offense. While it is the right of individuals to be protected from 
irresponsible reporting or commented, imprisonment is not a Just penalty for such 
Civil damages may be enough penalty and deterrence.
Also, under present rules, the complainant or offended party in a libel case if 
one IS a public officer, may nie the complaint in a trial court in Manila if his office'is 
in Manila, or in a trial court outside Manila if his office Is located there. If the 
offended party is a private person, then the venue of filing is in a trial court in his 
place of residence at the time of the commission of the alleged libelous act Such 
have been used and abused by subjects of news articles or other journalistic pieces 
in order to harass and cause inconvenience to the journalists and media 
organizations. They file libel suits in far-flung places, away from the office of the said 
media practitioners, have them imprisoned and/or pose bail, even if the cases are 
eventually withdrawn or settled, if not dismissed by the court.
Explore CPJ s database of attacks on the pre.s.s
https://rsf.orR/en/countrv/nhilippinPQ
5 Index I RSF


turn r 13 !he dUty 0f the State t0 aff0rd amPle protection t0 journalists, which, in 
rn, transiates mto adherence to a iarger cause: the promotion of the
Constituhonaily-protected right to expression. This biil seeks to decriminalize libel 
and limit the venue of filing libel suits.
This representation authored a similar measure during my first term as a
~ rr9cthe 13,h COn9reSS6' and refi,ed the Same in the —9
and 16 Congresses. It is unfortunate that despite the clarion call of 
mass media organizations and human rights groups to amend prevailing laws on 
libel, they have remained untouched over the years. Efforts to revise existing laws to
strengthen press freedom have languished in the Senate legislative mill for two 
decades since I first filed this bill.
The passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
INGQOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
6 Senate Bill No. 977 filed on 30 June 2004
7 Senate Bill No. 5 filed on 30 June 2007
9 ?natte f 'l! N0' 83 filed 0n 01 July 2010 and Senate Bil1 No- 683 filed on 07 July 2010 
Senate BUI No. 1387 filed on 28 August 2013 and Senate Bill No. 1962 filed on 27 November 2013


twentieth congress of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25 JUL14 A10-.38
SENATE 
S. No. 476
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES REVISED PENAL CODE, AS
cZreZ^XT Senate and H0USe of RsPresentatlVes of the Philippines in
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Section 1. Article 35S of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Article 355. Libel by Means of Writing or Similar 
Means. - A libel committed by means of writing, printing, 
lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, 
theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any 
similar means, shall be punished by [prisien-eorrcccional in
pcriods-er] a fine ranging from 
[gQQ-te-evOOO pesos, or bolb7] TEN THOUSAND PESOS 
(PIO^OOO.OO) TO THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P30/000.00)/ in addition to the civil action which may be 
brought by the offended party.
THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES 90 AND 91 TO 
THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING, THE OFFENSE


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AND PENALTY IMPOSED ABOVE SHALL PRESCRIBE 
IN SIX (6) MONTHS COUNTED FROM THE DATE OF 
THE FIRST PUBLICATION, AIRING OR EXHIBITION 
OF THE LIBELOUS MATERIAL."
Sec. 2. Article 356 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Art. 356. Threatening to Publish and Offer to Prevent 
Such Publication for a Compensation. - [The penalty of 
arresto mayor ox a fine from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or both,] A 
FINE RANGING FROM FIVE THOUSAND PESOS 
(P5,000.00) TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS 
(P15,000) shall be imposed upon any person who 
threatens another to publish a libel concerning him or the 
parents, spouse, child, or other members of the family of the 
latter, or upon anyone who shall offer to prevent the 
publication of such libel for a compensation or money 
consideration."
Sec. 3. Article 357 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Art. 357. Prohibited Publication of Acts referred to in 
the Course of Official Proceedings. - [The penalty of arresto 
-mayor or a-finc of from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or bothy] A 
FINE RANGING FROM FIVE THOUSAND PESOS 
(P5,000.00) TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS 
(P15,000.00) shall be imposed upon any reporter, editor 
or manager of a newspaper, daily or magazine, who shall 
publish facts connected with the private life of another and 
offensive to the honor, virtue and reputation of said person, 
even though said publication be made in connection with or 
under the pretext that it is necessary in the narration of any 
judicial or administrative proceedings wherein such facts 
have been mentioned."
Sec. 4. Article 360 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:


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"THE TERM COMMUNITY JOURNAUST, 
PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST STATION' SHALL BE 
UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN A JOURNALIST OR NEWS
medium that operates within a limited area 
OF circuution or broadcast in a city 
province or region, as defined under
EXISTING LAWS."
Separabi,ity 0ause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
fui, a“:tionai or inva,id'such parts not “thereb''sha"
sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regu abons and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
&c. 8. EfrectMty. - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the omda! Gaaette or in any two (2) newspapers of generai 
Circulations.
Approved,