SIXTEENTII CONRESS OJ! TilE REPUIlUC 
OF Till! PIIILlI'I'INES 
First Regular ,)'eSSiOfl 
SENATE 
s. Il. .2044 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to dcclare November 21 as Philippine Press l'reedom Day. 
'13 
DEC 16 P5 :36 
RECEiVED In .. 
Every May 3, the world eelebrales World Press Freedom Day, following a recommendation adopted at the 
twenty- sixlh session of· UNFSCO's General Conference in 1991. This however, does not have any significance to 
Philippine press history. This day comes and goes without a fuss in our country. 
But on Novcmber 23, 2009, Philippine press history changed in an instant as 57 people were killed on one 
of the mosl grucsome politically motivated crimes o[the decade. Genalyn Magudadatu and her family, most ofthem 
womon, joined by 37 journalists, composed a convoy of five cars on the way to the Commission on Elections 
(COMELEC) to lile hcr husband Ismacl Mangudadatu's candidacy. They were met by a hundred armed men, 
forcefully led into a vacant lot and were shot at close range, and most of them either abused, raped or mutilated, 
evidently as part of elll)ris to prevent them hom filing. 
While we arc considered 10 have the ii·cest press in Asia, we are also bombarded with numbers of murdered 
and disappeared journalists, Remembered as the single deadliest event for journalists in recent history, the 
Maguindanao I11nssacrc is and continues to be a symbol of a fight for press fi'codom and their tights in the practice 
of their profession. The eOllllllemoration of Philippine Press Freedom Day shall serve as a titting reminder that we 
will never /'.Jrget sacrifices of these jOllrnalists who gave lip their lives in the practice of their profession. 
I'reedom afthe press not only includes the right to speak and write but also includes the right to be respected 
and protected fromthrcats, intimidation and harm to their lives and properly while in the pursuit of their profession. 
It comprises primarily of the safety and security of those who want to spread the truth. Certainly, the Maguindanao 
massacre is a wanton violation or their rights, and the day that such an abuse of power and machinery happened at 
the expense or innocent truth seckel'S mllst be a day 10 commemorate and honor their sacrifices to prevent another 
ignominy in the history orlhe Philippine press. 
l.astly, II", Philippine Press Freedom Day seeks to promote and uphold fi"eedom and heighten awareness 
on press frecdom, so that journalists may li-eely and securely report the truth no matter who gets hU1t by it. 
The bill was libl in Ihe 15 'h Congress but for lack of time, its progress was halted at the committee level. 
In light of all these eireulllstances, the swift passage o[(his bill is earnestly sought. 


SlXTEENTII CONRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF TIlE I'IIILlI'I'INES 
First Regular ,)'e.\',\'iOll 
SENATE 
S. B. 2044 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
'13 
DEC 16 P5 :38 
lUX'EIVED B'\': 
()1cCLARING NOV I.:M HER TWICNTY- THRICE 011 EVERY YEAR AS "PHILIPPINE PRESS 
FmmDOMDAY" 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. In recognition of the nced to establish a comprehensive and structured campaign for the 
protection ofthe press, November 23 of every ycar is hereby dcclared as the "Philippine Press Freedom Day". 
SI.:CTION 2. To ensure meaningful observance of the holiday as herein declared, all heads of government 
agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations as wcll as local government 
units, and employers in the private sector shall encourage and afford suftlcient time and opportunities for their 
employees to engage and participate in any activity to conducted within the premises of their respcctive oftlces or 
establishmcnts to celebrate "Philippine Press Freedom Day". 
SF:CTION 3. The Department of Education, thc Commission on Higher Education and the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority, in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations 
Office, other government media organizations, private media organizations, shall lead puhJic and private school 
communities at alllcvcls in organizing consciousness-raising activities on the importance of the press, their rights, 
and the elimination of all rorms of violence, against the press. 
SICCTION 4. If, foJ' any reason, any section or provision ofthis Act is hcld to be unconstitutional or invalid, 
the validity of other sections hcrein shall not be affectcd thereby. 
SRCTION 5. This Ad shall take effcct fifteen (15) days following its publication in two national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved