Suit filed vs Cruz justifies need to review libel law - UNO

MANILA, Philippines - The political opposition on Thursday said the libel case filed against Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal critic of the administration, only justified the need to re-examine the country’s libel law. In a message sent to GMANews.TV, lawyer Adel Tamano - spokesman of the United Opposition - said the opposition has been pushing for the decriminalization of libel as it is being used to harass government critics. “One of the initiatives of the opposition has been the decriminalization of libel because, unfortunately, the law has been used as a tool for political repression to silence critics of the government," Tamano said. Several bills on the decriminalization of libel have been filed in the Senate. Last year, opposition Senator Francis Escudero filed Senate Bill 1403, which not only calls for the removal of imprisonment, but also of fines imposed on violators of the libel law. He said his proposal seeks to accord greater protection to freedom of speech and expression specifically for writers and journalists. "The pressure brought about by libel is not limited to imprisonment but also the threat aside from fine, of having an existing criminal record in law enforcement agencies, and the courts," Escudero earlier said. He noted that the restraint of liberty as well as threats of harassment and intimidation can be used as a weapon by erring individuals, especially from the government, against journalists. Senators Jose “Jinggoy" Ejercito, Aquilino “Nene" Pimentel, also of the opposition, and Manuel “Mar" Roxas II, of the administration party, have also filed measures decriminalizing libel, which they said would protect media practitioners from harassment suits. Earlier in the day, Cruz said he sees Malacañang's hand behind the filing of libel charges against him, but said the libel case would not stop him from criticizing the administration. Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson also on Thursday scored the government saying the libel suit against the prelate is another ploy of Malacañang to harass those who are critical of the administration. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV