AY)

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2316
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE YASSER ALONTO BALINDONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In one of his novels, William Shakespeare asked, “What is in a name? That
which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.” True, but a name

stands for the person, and citizenship names one for what his nationality is.

The whole world knows us by the word Filipino, just like we know other

citizens by their nationality, like American, Spanish, German, to cite a few.

Therefore, to add derogatory adjectives to a person’s nationality borders on
the criminal. With or without malice, labeling suspects of some criminal act injures

not only himself, but his entire ancestry.

Thus, the prevailing practice in media of labeling criminal suspects according
to their religious or ethnic culture should not be countenanced. Newspaper
headlines, radio and TV newscasters often describe suspects as Muslim terrorists,

Christian pervert, German pedophile, etc.,

‘An actual case in point is the national uproar that arose from a dictionary

definition of some first world countries of a maid as a “Pinay”, simply because there


are many Filipina OF Ws working as such. Why then should be tolerate those who

do the same thing to our minorities?

Hence, this bill seeks to correct this bias perpetrated by media thru penalizing
and providing penalties not only to the offender, but also to the offenders’ higher

authorities, such as their editors, chiefs and broadcast managers, as the case may be.

It is noted that similar bills have already been filed at the House of
Representatives during the 16" and 17" Congress, which however did not result in

becoming law.

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

YASSER ALONTO BALI
Representative
2" district, Lanao del Sur


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives:
Queson City, HMetro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2316
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE YASSER ALONTO BALINDONG

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE USE OF THE WORDS “MUSLIM” AND
“CHRISTIAN” IN MASS MEDIA TO DESCRIBE ANY PERSON
SUSPECTED OF OR CONVICTED FOR HAVING COMMITTED
CRIMINAL OR UNLAWFUL ACTS,
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of the Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Prohibited Act. It is hereby declared unlawful for any person
to use in mass media, the words “Muslim” and/or “Christian” or any other word that
would denote religious, regional or ethnic affiliation to describe any person

suspected of or convicted for having committed criminal or unlawful acts.

SECTION 2. Penalties. The penalty of arresto mayor or a fine ranging from
Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), or both, at the
discretion of the courts, shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of violating

Section 1 hereof.

The editor-in-chief, in the case of print media, and the news editor in the case
of broadcast media and other forms of mass media, shall be imposed a fine not lower
than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00).


The juridical entity violating this Act shall be imposed a fine not lower than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) for every violation.

For the second and succeeding offenses, the penalties shall be doubled.

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules. The Philippine Information Agency, in
coordination with the concerned sectors and entities, shall promulgate the rules and
regulations to implement this Act within three months after its effectivity.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Approved,