Duterte signs new law exempting broadcast, online media from revealing sources

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law exempting broadcast and online media from revealing their sources.

Signed on August 30, Republic Act 11458 expanded the coverage of RA 53, better known as Sotto Law, which was confined to print media.

Under the 1946 law, print media are not compelled to reveal their sources published in their news reports, except in cases involving national security.

Covered by the new law are publishers, owners, or duly recognized or accredited journalists, writers, reporters, contributors, opinion writers, editors, columnists, managers, media practitioners involved in the writing, editing, production, and dissemination of news for mass circulation, of any print, broadcast, wire service organization, or electronic mass media, including cable TV and its variants.

It said those covered “cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news item, report or information, appearing or being reported or disseminated through said media which was related in confidence to the abovementioned media practitioners unless the court or the House of Representatives or the Senate or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State.”

Senator Grace Poe, former chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, earlier said the legislation could not be used to protect a person from libel but it would protect media practitioners from being compelled or forced to reveal their sources but “not from spewing out malicious imputations under the guise of journalism.”

“Through this law, we want to embolden whistleblowers to speak out. If they cannot approach government institutions, then they should at least be able to approach the media,” she had said.

Malacañang released a copy of the new law on Wednesday. — RSJ, GMA News