PNoy urged to certify amendments to cybercrime law as urgent

President Benigno Aquino III should certify as urgent bills seeking to remove controversial provisions in Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, party-list representatives said Thursday.

 

In a statement, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said an order from the President to prioritize amendments to the anti-cybercrime law will allow Congress to fast track the process of correcting the legislation’s “inherent flaws.”

 

“We call on President Aquino to certify these bills as urgent to immediately fix the mistakes of the law, respond to popular clamor and make amends for this tragic lapse. Malacañang should send a strong signal that it is listening to the people,” Bello said.

 

Bello, who filed House Bill 6630 amending RA 10175, added that the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC) earlier this week “has already validated what the court of public opinion has consistently been saying.”

 

On Wednesday, the high court issued an order stopping the implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act for 120 days after receiving 15 petitions questioning the constitutionality of portions of the legislation. The law, which includes a provision on online libel and gives the government authority to access or block certain computer data, took effect last week amid online and legal protests.

 

Malacañang earlier said that it is open to amending RA 10175. 

Schedule hearings

 

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño called on the House committee on information technology to immediately schedule a public hearing on bills amending the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

 

“I am also enjoining my colleagues to co-author our bill so that it can be expedited. They should heed the call of the majority of their constituents,” Casiño said in a separate statement.

 

He added the House panel should immediately act on these measures, since Congress is scheduled to once again go on break next Wednesday.

 

Last week, Casiño and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, filed House Bill 6613 seeking to repeal controversial provisions in RA 10175. Another party-list group, Anakbayan, meanwhile called on President Aquino to take steps to end “legalized terrorism” through the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

 

“There are parts of the law that goes against even the right to privacy. If those in authority are not willing to scrap all suppressive provisions, the very outspoken youth who are targets of this law must take concrete action," Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said in a separate statement. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News