THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article 111 of the Bill of Rights Section 4 provides that 
“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, 
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress 
of grievances”. 
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by a government of free public press for its 
citizens and their association, extended to members of news gathering organizations, and 
their published reporting. It also extended to news gathering and processes involved in 
obtaining information for public distribution. 
Freedom of press implies that all people should have the right to express 
themselves in writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity. 
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights indicates: “Everyone has the right to 
fieedom of opinion and expression; this right includesfreedom to hold opinions without 
interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media 
regardless offrontiers”. 
Republic Act No. 53 as amended, otherwise known as Sotto law was enacted to 
protect the newspaper journalist for being compelled to name his news source but, look 
again the law does not mention broadcast journalist. 
The Sotto Law, Republic Act No. 53 “An Act exempt the publisher, editor or 
reporter of any publication from revealing the source of published news or information 
obtained in confidence” protects journalist from being compelled to reveal their news 
source. It is silent about radio or TV journalist. The rule on interpreting statutes is that 
what is not included is considered excluded Sotto law was named after Cebuano 
journalist Vicente Sotto “the father” of Cebuano journalist, literature and language, who 
was jailed for months over an article he printed in his newspaper. 
This bill seeks to amend the Sotto Law to include broadcast and Internet media in 
the privilege statute allowingjoumalist to decline from revealing his or her source except 
when the court or Congress finds the revelation necessary for national security. 
The amendment will give them the same protection: “the journalist cannot be 
compelled to reveal the source of my news item, news report or information reported or 
disseminated in the media which was related in confidence to the journalist.” 
The fear of broadcast journalist and other media practitioners of being taken to 
court for refusing to reveal sources of news and articles or commentaries will soon be 
over. 


The bill will not only strengthen the confidence of journalist in broadcast, news 
agencies and in the Internet sector but will recognize the important role they play, 
alongside print reporters, and in nation building. 
The reasons for this rule is that the identity of sources of a confidential news 
report or information must be protected otherwise the spring of data for news 
commentary, abridge expressions and unalloyed pleasure dries up and the mission of the 
press to check and balance and expose wrongdoing is defeated. 
Hence early approval of this bill is highly recommended. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
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 IZEVEALING 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 Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 53, as mended, is hereby further 
amended as follows: 
“Section 1. Without prejudice to his liability under the civil and 
criminal laws, [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 in confidence to such 
publisher, editor or reporter unless the court as or a House or committee of 
Congress] A DULY ACCREDITED JOURNALIST OF ANY PRINT, 
BROADCAST, INTERNET, OR WIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION, 
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 
WRITING, EDITING, 
COMMENTING OF THE NEWS FOR .MASS CIRCULATION 
CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO REVEAL THE SOURCE OF ANY 
NEWS ITEM, NEWS REPORT OR INFORMATION APPEARING OR 
BEING REPORTED OR DISSIMINATED IN SAID MEDIA, WHICH 
WAS RELATED 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.” 
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified. 
SECTION 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,