MANILA - The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) opposed a bill filed before the House of Representatives seeking to decriminalize libel. "Decriminalizing libel will result in an unbridled exercise of freedom of expression that will no longer allow for any form of legal restraint," NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Legal Affairs Prosecutor 2 Flosemer Chris Gonzales said in a statement on Sunday. "Anything in excess will result in chaos." On Friday, Makabayan Block led by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, together with Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel filed House Bill (HB) 1769 seeking to decriminalize libel through amendments to the Revised Penal Code. The proponents of the bill seek to repeal Articles 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 360, and 361 of the Revised Penal Code, which, in effect, would lift criminal penalties against persons accused of libel. Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code defines libel as "a public
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) objected to a proposed legislation at the House of Representatives which seeks to decriminalize libel, a move that is seen to draw mixed reactions from lawmakers.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
The bill, House Bill (HB) No.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 266 in Taguig City on June 21, 2022 meted out CPP-NPA leader Concha Araneta life imprisonment for the murder ofMetudio Inesa in Barangay Panipiason, Madalag, Aklan on September 17, 1975. (Contributed photo) MANILA - Justice is not elusive after all for a family who lost a loved one, slain before their eyes by New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas in Aklan 47 years ago. Metudio Inesa was killed by a group of NPA rebels under Concha Araneta in Barangay Panipiason, Madalag, Aklan on the evening of September 17, 1975, after the victim was seen by NPA spies to have welcomed Philippine Constabulary personnel at his house and provided temporary resting place and drinking water. The Regional Trial Court Branch 266 in Taguig City found Araneta alias Maria Concepcion Araneta, Chacon, Jojo, Etang, who remains scot-free, guilty of murder and meted out life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua. In the court decision signed by Presiding Judge Marivic C. Titor on June 2
BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO Convenors of Amlig Tubig are asking the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to disapprove or invalidate the recent appointment of Mona