But the people’s stand on this issue remains the same – criminal libel and cyberlibel have no rooms in a democracy. 4(c)(4) of R.A. 10175 states: “(4) Libel. Maria Ressa is the CEO of the online news portal Rappler. She has been a consistent critic of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. The same is now true for new media like the internet. They warned that the law will be used to stifle dissent and to harass not only government critics but also journalists and eagle-eyed netizens. The court disagreed with the contention of Free Legal Assistance Group regional coordinator Theodore Te, who led Rappler’s defense, that cyber libel is the same crime as ordinary libel. The 56-year-old Ressa joked with reporters following the verdict about the accumulation of cases - proof, she says, that the government is weaponizing the law in a bid to defang Rappler. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza filed the charges against broadcasters Eric Rodinas, anchor of Radyo Natin and Larry Baja Subillaga Jr., a freelance broadcaster, over “malicious” statements posted in their social media accounts on March 14, 2017. Internationally acclaimed Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former staffer at Rappler, the online news service founded by … For cyber libel, the venue is the province or city where any of its elements have been committed, where any part of the computer system used is situated, or where any of the damage caused to a natural or juridical person took place (Section 22, Implementing Guidelines of the Cybercrime Prevention Act). Of the 127 cyber-libel cases, 38 have been dismissed for lack of evidence. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 27) — A Filipina caregiver in Taiwan is under investigation for cyber libel following her "nasty" Facebook … However, if it is cyber libel, the penalty is increased by one degree. One of the offenses punishable under this law is cyber libel. It comes just weeks after government regulators shut down a broadcast network relied on by millions for entertainment and information about the pandemic sweeping the country. Cyber libel is committed in the same manner as libel except for the medium of its commission which is through a computer system or device. Cyber-libel, comment threads, social media Since the Supreme Court declared cyber-libel constitutional, social media and the Internet have become rife with libel scares and threats. Te’s argument was hinged on the SC’s pronouncement in its Disini decision that cybercrime … Maria Ressa is the CEO of the online news portal Rappler. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Ressa, 57, was once already found guilty of cyber libel in June … At that time, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said, “This is a political and legal regression in terms of protecting free speech on the internet. Ressa has filed a motion to quash the cyber libel case, saying that she is not the author of the Philippine Star article and should not be charged for tweeting screenshots of it. Duterte has faced international calls to drop all charges against the veteran reporter, with rights groups saying they amount to state harassment. Veteran journalist Inday Espina-Varona, said in 2014 after the SC upheld the constitutionality of cyber libel, “The criminal nature of libel in this country makes it the perfect tool of harassment (short of murder, which has also taken out so many Filipino journalists).”, CMFR said, “The libel provisions of the RPC [Revised Penal Code] have been problematic for free expression and press freedom since 1932, when the RPC was implemented, primarily because of the penalty of imprisonment, which has been used in many instances to silence journalists.”, Back then, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque sang a different tune. They were released on bail pending appeal. A Philippines court has found the veteran journalist and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte Maria Ressa guilty of cyber libel. Critics call it Duterte's revenge over Rappler's hard-hitting coverage of his administration, most pointedly his violent drug war. She has been a consistent critic of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.… Maria Ressa, the founder of award-winning news site Rappler, was charged with her second cyber libel case at the Makati Regional Trial Court, several media reported today. The high court declared Section 4(c)(4), which penalized online libel, is not unconstitutional with respect to the original author of the post but unconstitutional only where it penalizes those who simply receive the post or react to it.”. Judge Jose Tabosares of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 23, in Kidapawan City sentenced the two broadcasters two to four or eight years jail term and ordered them to pay P2.5 million in damages. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. In the first cyber libel case, based on the complaint filed by Keng, a Manila regional court had found Ressa and co-defendant Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former Rappler researcher, guilty and sentenced them to a minimum of six months and one day to a maximum of six years in prison. This is the second time that the RACU-7 nabbed cyber libel suspects this week. Ressa and Santos were also each ordered to pay 200,000 Philippine … 10175), jurisdiction shall lie if any of the elements of the libel was committed within the Philippines. a). In prosecuting the crime of libel or cyber libel, venue is jurisdictional. Law Defining Cyber Libel R.A. 10175 deals with many crimes, including byber libel. If the posts are published and accessible in the … Modern communication facilities such as through the internet or cellphones, CDs, DVDs b). The facilities of the mass media i.e print and broadcast media such as articles, news items, columns, caricatures, editorials in newspapers and magazines; comments, opinions, news aired over the television or radio stations b). I don’t think that is the purpose of the law.”. “By any reasonable and unbiased reading, the sentence is not defamatory—read singly, none of the words are; read together, the sentence is not,” her petition read. A cyber libel conviction in the Philippines carries a possible imprisonment of six years or more. 10175, saying, “Will freedom of expression be stopped? Under the rules, when an accused enters "no plea," the court automatically records "not guilty," … Rappler CEO Maria Ressa speaks to the media outside a regional trial court before the arraignment in her second cyber libel case, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, December 15, 2020. Is it a new crime? Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Under the new law, the penalty is imprisonment for a minimum period of four years and one day to a maximum of eight years, per offense. It is defamation in its very essence, but covers published work on print, television and other traditional media. Roque, then with Centerlaw, criticized the SC decision, saying “failing to declare libel as unconstitutional is contrary to human rights law.”. Republic Act No. MANILA, Philippines — Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa said Monday she would not be silenced as she launched her defense against a libel … To keep up with the times, the Philippine Congress has enacted Republic Act No. MANILA – The recent conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former reporter-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. brought to the fore cyber libel as a weapon against journalists. Accuracy and availability may vary. The new cyber libel case was filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng, related to a single tweet posted by Ressa in February 2019. Rappler's lawyers argued the statute of limitations on libel had passed. / celr Libel committed on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other online content was made a more serious crime compared to printed libel because of to the newly approved anti-cybercrimes law or Republic Act 10175, according to Atty. Ressa and Santos were not the first journalists to be convicted of the crime. The Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction on both libel and cyber libel. In 2015 80 cyber-libel … MANILA, Philippines — A broadcaster based in Davao was arrested Friday over a cyber libel charge stemming from a Facebook post, the National Union of Journalists reported. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Subillaga said via Facebook that the governor was fooling the people of the province while Rodinas said the governor became rich because of a project. Maria Ressa, Executive Editor and CEO of Philippine news website Rappler, arrives at the Manila City Hall for the promulgation of her cyber libel case … On Monday night, November 4, 2019, RACU-7 also arrested Mary Grace Catapan, 31, and Jhallyn Gequillo Varga, 35, who allegedly defamed the wife of a judge in a group chat. The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 147 is handling her pending motion to quash the case. Section 4 (c) (4) of the Cyber Crime Law. Libel is one of the cybercrime offenses punishable under Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 . NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. He was referring to the UN Human Rights Committee’s October 2011 decision stating that the Philippine criminal libel law is excessive and is in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in which the Philippines is a signatory. FIGHTING ONLINE CRIME Online libel is the top cybercrime complaint in 2016, according to the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group The … In the Philippines today, the most prominent name in the country's media landscape has been convicted for cyber libel. This is the second time that the RACU-7 nabbed cyber libel suspects this week. Will we now have offenses such as inciting to sedition with the aid of a computer? Ressa is accused of cyber libel for the second time for her tweet containing screenshots of a 2002 newspaper article about Keng's alleged involvement in criminal activities. — A libel committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party.The Cybercrime Prevention Act strengthened libel … Bulatlat.com. Cyber libel was also used to threaten a campus journalist who posted his criticisms to the government’s COVID-19 response. Republic Act No. A farmer, Nida Davao in barangay San Jose, Montalban, Rizal checking her crops after the…, What happened before: Cyber libel in the Philippines, Get Bulatlat’s latest news and updates via email. c) If the libel imputes any of the private crimes, the Prosecution must be upon a complaint filed by the offended party 2. Sec. On March 22, 2019, two radio broadcasters in Kidapawan City were convicted of online libel. The Supreme Court has mentioned the relatively new Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in only a handful of cases. 118757 & 121571), a 2004 case decided by the Supreme Court. This online/internet libel law, however, punishes only the … The cyber libel charges against Ressa were made under a controversial cybercrime statute aimed at online offences, such as stalking and child pornography. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, officially recorded as Republic Act No. Both suspects, who are from Bogo City, posted bail amounting to P36,000 each. On Monday night, November 4, 2019, RACU-7 also arrested Mary Grace Catapan, 31, and Jhallyn Gequillo Varga, 35, who allegedly defamed the wife of a judge in a group chat. Petitioners dispute the constitutionality of both the penal code provisions on libel as well as Section 4 (c) (4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act on cyberlibel. 353, RPC) See also Brillante vs. Court of Appeals (G.R. Responsibilities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ... Is it possible to file a cyber libel case on a anonymous deleted facebook account? According to a press release from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG), a total of 1,211 cybercrime complaints were filed with them from 2013-2015. Yes, in the Philippines, libel is still a criminal offense. A court in Manila on Monday found Maria Ressa, journalist and editor of online publication Rappler, guilty of cyber libel. Duterte has faced international calls to drop all charges against the veteran reporter, with rights groups saying they amount to state harassment. MANILA – The recent conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former reporter-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. brought to the fore cyber libel as a weapon against journalists. I really love that I became a criminal all in one year several times. MCCARTHY: Ressa, 2018 Time's Person of the Year, is free on bail pending appeal, but the conviction of the crusader against disinformation is a fresh blow to press freedoms in the Philippines. The cyber libel case alarms the media because it targets an eight-year-old story under a law that was enacted four months after it was posted. 10175, or otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (“RA 10175”). — A libel is public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead. Second, the crime of “Internet libel” is punishable by a penalty one degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code. Press freedom advocates, digital rights activists and human rights defenders first took the streets in 2012 to oppose Cybercrime Prevention Act, labeling it as cyber martial-law. The Cybercrime Prevention Act imposes higher penalties for libel from a minimum of six months imprisonment in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) per count to a minimum of six years. Manila, Dec 4 (efe-epa).- Journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines has been charged for a second time with cyber libel following a lawsuit filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng in February for sharing a screenshot of an article that was allegedly defamatory towards him. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 penalizes cyber libel. The number is almost 274 percent higher compared to the 34 cyber-libel cases filed in 2016. The conviction for libel online stemmed from an article dating back to 2012, with a Filipino businessman disputing a referenced intelligence report alleging he was linked to a murder and drug dealing. Under Section 21 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. Philippine laws punish libel: Art. In the Philippines today, the most prominent name in the country's media landscape has been convicted for cyber libel. Press freedom advocates, digital rights activists and human rights defenders first took the streets in 2012 to oppose Cybercrime … Ressa, 57, was once already found guilty of cyber libel in June … Then President Benigno S. Aquino III defended the signing into law of the controversial Republic Act No. It aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions and the Internet in the Philippines. The difference lies in the venue of filing for the action, which in turn depends on the nature of the offended person. / celr NPR's Julie McCarthy reports. The renowned Philippine journalist Maria Ressa has been convicted of cyber libel in Manila for an online article from 2012. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility have long been calling for the decriminalization of libel. Maria Ressa, who heads a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, refused to enter a plea on Tuesday in a second cyber libel case she faces, saying the charges against her were ludicrous. Ressa's counsel, Theodore Te, said they had agreed to a conditional arraignment while waiting for a decision on a motion to quash the charges. It truly is like waiting for another shoe to drop as we wait in fear of the sensitive and defensive government official who’s out to make a point. The tweet included screenshots of an earlier story from another publication alleging ties between Keng and a judge in the Philippines -- one of the sources of the Rappler article that was the basis of a separate cyber libel charge on which Ressa was convicted in June. It aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions and the Internet in the Philippines. But what does cyber libel mean? She and a former colleague at the site now face up to six years in prison. J ournalist Maria Ressa, founder of the news website Rappler, was arrested Wednesday in the Philippines on charges of “cyber libel” that are widely seen as a crackdown on the site’s reporting. Thus, the penalty is prision mayor in its minimum period, which is from six years and one day to eight years and medium period, which is from eight years and one day to 10 years. Copyright © 2020 NPR. President Rodrigo Duterte had waged a campaign of intimidation against Maria Ressa and her scrappy newsroom. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 penalizes cyber libel. 2-min read Ressa described the latest cyber libel charge as 'crazy' and 'dangerous' Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa asked a court on Friday to … It has gone full circle, it seems. Rappler CEO Maria Ressa speaks to the media on Tuesday outside a regional trial court before the arraignment in her second cyber libel case, in Makati City, the Philippines. Harry Roque, professor of constitutional law at the University of the Philippines. Critics say the president has intentions to inhibit free press. The new cyber libel case was filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng, related to a single tweet posted by Ressa in February 2019. The … She posted the tweet in February 2019, a few days after she was arrested over the first case, which was in connection with a Rappler article citing an "intelligence report" linking Keng to human trafficking and drug smuggling. Still, many provisions questioned were upheld as constitutional in a landmark decision in February 2014. November 23, 2018 at 7:25 am. Read: ‘Fight vs cybercrime law not over’ — netizens. Cyber-libel, comment threads, social media Since the Supreme Court declared cyber-libel constitutional, social media and the Internet have become rife with libel scares and threats. Libel is “a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.” (Art. two radio broadcasters in Kidapawan City were convicted of online libel. Ressa is accused of cyber libel for the second time for her tweet containing screenshots of a 2002 newspaper article about Keng's alleged involvement in criminal activities. Libel committed on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other online content was made a more serious crime compared to printed libel because of to the newly approved anti-cybercrimes law or Republic Act … Or rebellion committed via the internet? LIBEL Forms of Libel. Under the Duterte administration, what critics said became true. 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