FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
1426 
S.B. No. ____ _ 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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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 while in 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. In the course of the recently concluded 2010 elections, there 
have likewise been numerous killings of media persons, 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 anchored on the freedom of speech and of expression, 
and where media is considered the Fourth Estate. 
There is a need to stop these 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 
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of murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. 
'In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
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LORE~bA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
1426 
S.B. No. ~ __ _ 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Article 248 of Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise 
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known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby further amended to read as follows 
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"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: 
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1) With treachery, taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid 
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of armed men, or employing means to weaken the defense or of means 
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or persons to insure or afford impunity; 
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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 sh'eet 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; 
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5) With evident premeditation; 
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6) With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the 
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suffering of the victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or 
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corpse[.]; AND 
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7) WHEN THE 
PE~SON KILLED IS A MEMBER OF THE 
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BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA, ON OCCASION, IN THE 
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COURSE OR BY REASON OF HIS OR HER LAWFUL EXERCISE 
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OF DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS AS SUCH MEMBER." 
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SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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