House bill seeks to repeal controversial provisions in anti-cybercrime law

A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to repeal controversial provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act.

 

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino and Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño filed on Monday House Bill 6613 or what they called the “Internet Freedom Bill.”

 

The measure seeks to repeal the provision under Section 4 of the law which lists libel as one of the cybercrime offenses.

 

The bill also proposes to remove Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the law, which seeks to punish persons who aided in the commission of a cybercrime, and those who attempted to commit a cybercrime.

 

The proposed legislation likewise seeks to delete the entire Chapter IV of the anti-cybercrime law. Under this chapter, the Department of Justice is given the power to restrict or block access to computer data found to be in violation of the RA 10175.

 

At a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Casiño said the bill aims to allow Congress to start deliberating on possible amendments to the RA 10175 while the Supreme Court is determining the constitutionality of certain provisions under this law.  

 

“Sa pamamagitan ng amyenda, ibinabalik natin ang cybercrime law doon sa original nitong intention na talagang ang gustong iprohibit ay ‘yung pornography, identity theft at mga scam sa internet,” the party-list lawmaker said.

 

Several petitions have already been filed at the Supreme Court seeking to stop the implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

 

The law has also triggered online protests, and even a hacking spree from a group called “Anonymous Philippines.” — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News