Bill amending Cybercrime Law to be filed today – Chiz Escudero

Senator Francis Escudero —who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday morning— said that he will be filing a bill seeking amendments to the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Law later in the day.

 

"Magfa-file kami ng amendatory measure para tanggalin yung criminal liability sa libel," Escudero told reporters after submitting his COC at the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros on Tuesday.

 

He likewise reiterated his previous statement that, when senators signed the measure's committee report, the provision on online libel was not there.

 

"Nakalusot sa amin yun, nung pimirma naman kami nun wala pa yun.  Inamin namin yun agad kaya nga amendatory bill ang agad naming ifile," he said on Tuesday.

 

But he said his position on libel has always been clear, noting that immediately upon his assumption to the Senate in 2007, he had filed a measure seeking to decriminalize libel.

 

"Maliwanag ang aming posisyon, tutol ako sa pagcriminalize ng libel," he said.

 

He said that online libel should be considered just a civil offense instead of being criminal offense as currently stipulated in the Cybercrime Law, which President Benigno Aquino III signed on Sept. 12.

 

"Danyos lamang at wala dapat kulong," Escudero explained.

 

Once filed, Escudero said they will only be able to take up the bill on October 8, when the Senate resumes session. — TJD, GMA News