Palace respects press freedom – Andanar
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s enactment of a measure meant to expand the coverage of the so-called Sotto Law shows the administration’s respect for press freedom, a Palace official has said.
Signed on August 30, Republic Act (RA) 11458 expands the coverage of exemptions from revealing the source of published news or information obtained in confidence by including journalists from broadcast and online news agencies.
The law maintains that media practitioners may only be compelled to reveal their source of information when the court, the House of Representatives, the Senate, or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the “security of the state.”
“It is noteworthy to point out that this new law will greatly benefit media practitioners in the Philippines as the coverage of those who are shielded from revealing their source of published news or information is now extended to other media platforms, such as broadcast, electronic mass media, and wire service organizations,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.
Andanar noted that many landmarks, including the Sotto Law, “have been signed to champion press freedom and the right of the public to information.”
“If you would recall, the President signed earlier unprecedented measures, such as Administrative Order 1, creating the Presidential Task Force on the violations to the right to life, liberty, and security of the members of the media; executive Order 2, promoting an open government in the Executive branch through the freedom of information; Republic Act 1140, which declares July 25 as National Campus Freedom Day, underscoring the importance of the campus press as an institution in promoting the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression,” he said.
“Indeed, there is no time in our history that our journalists feel appreciated and protected than today, as they continue to remain unafraid and unimpeded in highlighting the good news in the government or in society or exposing wrongdoings in the bureaucracy or in their surroundings,” Andanar added.
But Duterte has repeatedly lashed out at some media outfits for what he claimed was unfair coverage of his presidency.
He had vowed to block the renewal of the franchise granted to ABS-CBN, which he had accused of not airing a political ad that was already paid for by his campaign team.
In February 2018, the President banned Rappler from covering all his activities, which the media outfit challenged before the Supreme Court.
Rappler and its officers led by veteran journalist Maria Ressa are also facing a number of lawsuits including cyber libel, violation of the country’s anti-dummy law and tax evasion.