International media groups urge sustained campaign vs Cybercrime Law

A New York-based media group on Wednesday called for a sustained campaign against the Cybercrime Prevention Act even if it will be in the freezer for the next four months.

 

Committee to Protect Journalists noted President Benigno Aquino III had supported the law and signed it "knowing full well" what it contained.

 

"(D)on't think this is a finished battle. President Aquino supported the law, then publicly backed away from the increased penalties even though he signed knowing full well what was on the page. It might be wise to launch an Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2013 campaign," CPJ Asia program coordinator Bob Dietz said.  

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against the anti-cybercrime law, in the wake of protests from various groups.

 

Protesters had questioned the law's provision on online libel, and its potential chilling effect on the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and speech.

 

Dietz noted the law, which took effect last Oct. 3, doubled maximum penalties for libel from six years to 12 - and comments posted online and judged libelous would be criminal offenses.

 

He also cited the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, whose members he said have a "deeply vested interest" in maintaining as much free speech.

 

"(Journalists are) usually the prime targets of politicians out to silence critics through the legal harassment that prevailing laws have allowed. The NUJP said in its petition calling for repeal that the Cybercrime Act would 'set back decades of struggle against the darkness of 'constitutional dictatorship' and replace it with 'cyber authoritarianism,'" he said.

 

He pointed out the late President Ferdinand Marcos had described his Martial Law government as "constitutional authoritarianism."

 

"No one is claiming this misstep was a march back toward that era, but it certainly wasn't a fast forward step away from it, either," he said.

 

Meanwhile, another international group, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), hailed the TRO and credited media, bloggers, netizens, human rights groups, people’s organizations, and progressive legislators for opposing it.

 

“The IFJ applauds the defenders of freedom of expression in the Philippines for their steadfast stand against the Cybercrime law. We join the NUJP in calling on the Supreme Court to repeal the law which is in contradiction with the country’s constitution and obligations under international law. We further call on the legislators in the Philippines to decriminalize libel and pass the Freedom of information Bill” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park. — ELR, GMA News