HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
30

UN 2019

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

REGISTRATION UNIT:
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 684

Introduced by: REP. RAUL V. DEL MAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is acknowledged that Republic Act No. 53, as amended, otherwise known as
the “The Sotto Law” has been the journalist's privilege statute by which he can refuse
to reveal the source of a confidential news report or information except when the
court or a House or Committee of Congress finds that the revelation is demanded by
the security of the state.

The reason for the rule is that the identity of sources of a confidential news
report or information must be protected, otherwise the spring of data for new or
commentary dries up and the mission of the press to check and balance and expose
wrongdoing is impeded.

Oddly, however, the privileged applies only to the publisher, editor, columnist
or duly accredited reporter of any newspaper, magazine or periodical of general
circulation. The law is silent about journalists from broadcast stations, news or wire
agencies, and internet newspapers, magazines and other publications.

The explanation is that when the law was passed, electronic journalism was
virtually non-existent (broadcast stations played music or drama and gave the news
but did not hire news reporters), the news or wire agencies still had to be developed
and recognized, and the internet was not even a dream.

It is an omission that must be filled, an anomaly that must be corrected. The
journalists envisioned by Sotto Law cannot be confined to print practitioners.


In this context, the attached bill seeks to include within the coverage of the
Sotto Law, as amended, journalists from broadcast, news agencies and internet
publications as a matter of duty and necessity. The proposed amendment will not
only strengthen confidence in these other journalists but will also recognize the
important role that they, together with print practitioners, play in the building of
community and nation.

It may be stressed that this Bill passed on third and final reading in the House
of Representatives during the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses but was not
approved by the Senate, for lack of time upon congressional adjournment.

In view of all the foregoing, approval of the Bill is earnestly requested.

RAULV. DEL MAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

684

HOUSE BILL NO.

introduced by: REP. RAUL V. DEL MAR

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
REVEALING 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 the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 53, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read 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 or a House or Committee of Congress] A DULY
ACCREDITED JOURNALIST OF ANY LEGITIMATE PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET,
OR WIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION, STATION OR NETWORK, 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 GATHERING, WRITING, EDITING OF, OR
COMMENTING ON THE NEWS FOR MASS CIRCULATION OR BROADCAST
CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO REVEAL THE SOURCE OF ANY NEWS ITEM, NEWS.
REPORT OR INFORMATION APPEARING OR BEING REPORTED, DISSEMINATED
OR COMMENTED ON IN SAID MEDIA, WHICH WAS RELAYED 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.”

SEC. 2. Insert a new Section 2 after Section 1 of Republic Act No. 53, as
amended, to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, A DULY ACCREDITED JOURNALIST
OR PRACTITIONER OF ANY LEGITIMATE PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET, OR
WIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION, STATION OR NETWORK, IS ONE WHO IS
ACCREDITED WITH ANY REPUTABLE ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA PERSONS SUCH
AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY —
PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE (PIA - PCOO), THE
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (NPC), THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES (NUJP), AND THE KAPISANAN NG MGA BROADKASTER NG
PILIPINAS (KBP), AND/OR ONE WHO IS A REGULAR EMPLOYEE OF A
LEGITIMATE PRINT, BROADCAST, INTERNET, OR WIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION,
STATION OR NETWORK: PROVIDED, THAT ANY JOURNALIST ENGAGED BY ANY
LEGITIMATE MEDIA COMPANY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE AN ACCREDITED
JOURNALIST.”
SEC. 3. Any law, decree, ordinance or rule or regulation inconsistent with or

contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby amended or repealed.


SEC. 4, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and/or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,