Politics · Philippines Bureau
De Lima backs bill to decriminalize libel, protect press freedom
A Liberal party-list representative announced plans to file legislation decriminalizing libel charges, citing concerns that such laws are being weaponized against journalists. The proposed measure aims to safeguard press freedom and prevent legal harassment of media practitioners.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said Wednesday that she and fellow lawmakers are preparing to introduce a bill that would decriminalize libel offenses, seeking to curb the use of defamation laws as a tool to intimidate journalists and restrict media freedom.
De Lima said the proposed legislation is needed to ensure that libel statutes are not exploited to silence critics or penalize legitimate news reporting. She emphasized that safeguarding press freedom requires removing criminal penalties associated with defamation cases, which she contends are often used to suppress dissent and journalistic inquiry.
The measure represents an effort to align Philippine law with international standards protecting freedom of expression and press freedom. Advocates for decriminalization argue that criminal libel provisions create a chilling effect on reporting, forcing news outlets and individual journalists to self-censor for fear of criminal prosecution.
The bill's filing comes amid ongoing debates in Congress regarding media freedom and the balance between protecting individual reputation and ensuring robust public discourse. De Lima's push reflects broader regional and international movements to reform defamation laws that critics say disproportionately restrict freedom of expression.