Lacson wants libel decriminalized but with increased civil liabilities

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL — Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday expressed intent to spearhead the decriminalization of libel, but said he will push for increased civil liabilities.

“I will support any move and even spearhead a move to decriminalize libel. This is a perennial problem but ito ang [this is the] catch, ha. I-decriminalize natin [Decriminalize it] but we'll put in... more teeth doon sa [on the] civil liabilities sa media,” Lacson said in a press conference.

Lacson said media should be responsible for their output, whether written or broadcast.

“Dagdagan natin ‘yung civil liabilities, meaning puwede kayong pagmultahin,” Lacson said.

(Let's add civil liabilities, meaning you can be fined.)

“’Yung pag-spearhead o pag-support ng move to decriminalize, it is about time because alam mo in this day and age of modern information technology, wala na dapat ‘yung laging mayroong naka-hang na sword of Damocles so to speak, over the heads of our media people,” he added.

(It is about time to spearhead or support the move to decriminalize because as you know in this day and age of modern information technology, there should be no sword of Damocles, so to speak, hanging over the heads of our media people.)

ABS-CBN

Lacson also said he is in favor of granting ABS-CBN a franchise to boost the competition among media networks.

“Yes, not for anything but to enhance competitiveness or competition kasi dati dalawa yung TV networks, of course may SMNI, TV5, CNN, marami pang iba pero magbawas ka ng isa, mababawasan ‘yung competition [there used to be just two TV networks, of course there are now SMNI, TV5, CNN and many others, and if you remove one, you will lessen the competition],” Lacson said when asked about his position on ABS-CBN franchise.

For his part, Sotto said he is also in favor of giving ABS-CBN a new franchise.

In 2021, Sotto filed a bill which seeks to give the broadcasting network a 25-year franchise.

Lacson then noted the importance of the media as watchdogs in the society.

“And you know, barring any violation, dapat i-enhance natin ‘yung [we should enhance the] participation ng mass media in our society. Kasi kayo yung watchdog, hindi ba? Siguro kung walang media, mas maraming abuses.  [Because you're the watchdogs, right? If there is no media, there will be more abuses.] That’s a fact,” Lacson said.

Sotto backed Lacson’s statement, recalling the situation of the press in 1972 or during Ferdinand Marcos' Martial Law era.

“Like 1972…Maraming abuses, walang media [many abuses, no media],” Sotto said. — BM, GMA News