Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._9969

Introduced by 1-BAP Party-list Representative Silvestre H. Bello III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Philippine Troops Capture Muslim Linked to Bombing”.

“Clash With Muslim Rebels Leave Scores Dead, Wounded”.

“Manila Police Chase Muslim-Speaking Suspects in Shooting”.
“Muslim-looking Guy is Last Seen in Area Before Robbery Incident”.

These are usual headlines or subtitles in Philippine daily
newspapers, whether broadsheets or tabloid, and are also heard
from radio or television reporters, in flash reports and news bars.

This has become so commonplace that people have gotten used to
it. In fact, a day rarely passes by when we don’t hear a “Muslim
Suspect” being reported in the tri-media.

For a few months in the recent past, the word “Muslim” came into

daily news and gained much unwarranted notoriety when it was

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reported that 44 police commandos were killed by “Muslim rebels”

in the infamous Mamasapano incident.

A “MUSLIM? relates to a person who follows the religion of Islam, a
monotheistic and Abrahamic religion based on the Quran.

For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a
complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and
forgiveness, and the great majority have nothing to do with the
extremely grave and violent events which have come to be
associated with their faith.

But the continuing and irresponsible use of the word “Muslim” in
media, usually on unpalatable terms, has led to the further
marginalization and ostracization of our brothers and sisters of the
Islam faith, has made “Muslim” synonymous with radicalism or
lawlessness, and unnecessarily depicts our Muslim brethren as
trouble makers in general, largely to be avoided and shunned due to
their perceived violent tendencies.

This Bill seeks to curtail the apparent media bias against Muslim
outlaws, malefactors and criminal elements, but which does not use
such inflammatory language for outlaws and malefactors belonging
to other faiths or sects.

Strong support for the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ft ABEAlo Il
Representative, 1-BAP Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 5969

Introduced by 1-BAP Party-list Representative Silvestre H. Bello III

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE, IN PHILIPPINE TRI-MEDIA
POLICE BLOTTERS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
AGENCIES, OF THE WORD “MUSLIM” TO DESCRIBE ANY PERSON
SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING ANY FELONY WHEN REPORTING
SUCH FELONY.

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

SECTION 1. Title. This shall be known as “An Act Prohibiting the
Use, in Philippine Tri-Media, Police Blotters, and Other Government
Agencies, of the Word “Muslim” to Describe Any Person Suspected
of Committing Any Felony When Reporting Such Felony.”

SECTION 2. It shall be unlawful for any media reporter, writer,
media outlet, police blotter, government agencies, private or public

hospitals or such other institutions to use the word “Muslim” to

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describe any person suspected of committing any unlawful act or of
the commission of a crime, when reporting such unlawful or

criminal act.

SECTION 3. Nature and Scope of Prohibition — Unless the criminal
act was expressly performed by the malefactor for religious
purposes or with religious underpinnings, or purposely done to
draw attention to his being a Muslim, our discerning media should
fairly report the malefactor for what he did, rather than for who he

is.

This prohibition applies to all government and private
institutions, law enforcement agencies, hospitals required under PD
169 to report all persons being treated for physical injuries
resulting from any form of violence, and media practitioners
whether practicing independently or connected to private or

government media establishments.

SECTION 4. Penalties. Upon finding of guilt, violators of this Act
shall suffer the following penalties:

A. 18t Offense - A fine of not less than 500 pesos nor more
than 1,000 pesos.

B. 24 Offense — A fine of not less than 1,000 pesos nor
more than 3,000 pesos.

C.3 Offense - Suspension of the government license,
permit or accreditation of the concerned media outfit
or establishment for a period of not less than 6 months
nor more than 12 months.

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D.4 Offense —- Revocation of the government permit to
operate and or prohibition to engage as a media

practitioner.

SECTION 5. Solidary liability. - Media practitioners guilty of
violating this Act shall be solidarily liable with their editors in chief
and publisher.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive
issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability clause. The declaration of
unconstitutionality of any provision of this Act shall not affect the

other provisions hereof.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15)
days following its publication in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved.

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