Politics · Philippines Bureau
Presidential task force backs push to decriminalize libel law
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security has thrown its weight behind efforts by journalists and media organizations to remove criminal penalties from the Philippines' libel statute. The agency said safeguards protecting citizens should remain even as the law is reformed.
LSN Philippines ·
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — A key government body has endorsed moves to decriminalize libel, marking rare alignment between authorities and the country's press freedom advocates on a contentious legal issue.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security expressed support for the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and allied media groups seeking to strike criminal provisions from libel legislation. Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., who heads the task force, said the government recognizes the importance of reforming the law while maintaining protections for citizens.
"It is still necessary to have a libel law for the protection of citizens," Torres said, indicating the task force's position that civil remedies could replace criminal penalties without eliminating legal recourse entirely.
The Philippines has long faced criticism from international press freedom monitors over its criminal libel provisions, which critics argue are used to intimidate journalists and suppress legitimate reporting. Decriminalization efforts have gained momentum in recent years as media organizations argue that criminal sanctions disproportionately chill free expression compared to civil liability.