Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday recommended decriminalizing libel for traditional journalists only, excluding vloggers, bloggers, and others who pretend to practice journalism.
Tulfo floated the suggestion during the hearing of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, noting that this was his campaign promise and he wanted to “walk the talk.”
“I would still go for decriminalizing libel but for only certain groups, mga traditional media. ‘Yung may mga accountability,” he said.
He said traditional media organizations like Vera files, Abante, Philippine Star, Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN, Rappler, and others that have "desk editors" who verify contents should be excluded.
The Senator said his office’s studies showed that penalties should be imposed against individuals who are “block-timers” and “attack-collect.”
“Ang sinasabi ko, isang Juan Dela Cruz na loko-loko. Mag o-open niya ‘yung channel niya para mag attack and collect. Maraming nangyayari na ganiyan ngayon, ‘yung attackers collectors. Magpapanggap bilang journalist tapos walang ginawa maghapon at magdamag tumira ng tumira ng pulitiko,” he explained.
Tulfo added that these journo pretenders will then “extort money from politicians” to stop the spread of misinformation about them.
“Those people should be….. kasuhan pa rin ng libel at makulong pero yung traditional media, ayoko. I mean, dahil sa kanila dapat ma-decriminalized ang libel,” he said.
The bills seeking to decriminalize libel or the lifting of criminal penalties against persons accused of libel have been pending in both the Senate and House.
