Pimentel: Saligang Batas ang proteksyon ng media sa anti-terrorism law

Nilinaw ni Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene" Pimentel Jr nitong Biyernes na hindi mapipilit ang media na ibunyag ang kanilang mga sources sa ilalim ng Human Security Act o anti-terrorism law. Ayon sa beteranong mambabatas, sa ilalim ng section 4, Article 3 ng Saligang Batas o ang artikulo sa Bill of Rights: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." Bukod sa media, maging mga abogado, doktor at iba pa ay protektado ng nasabing karapatan at hindi maaaring kwestyunin ng anti-terror law o Republic Act 9372. “In fact, there is more reason to exempt the correspondences, messages and records of journalists from being monitored, bugged and recorded or subpoenaed for use under legal compunction in the investigation or terrorist trials than the communications between doctors and patients," ani Pimentel. Ipinahayag din ni Pimentel ang pangamba ng Reporters Committee for Freedom of the United States na “if any journalist strongly and legitimately suspects that his or her communications with sources are being intercepted by a third party, that journalist simply cannot promise confidentiality in good faith to an international source when that source could face torture or death if the communication is revealed." Nagpanukala na diumano si Pimentel ng halos 100 amyenda sa Human Security Act, na base sa may 200 pahinang pag-aaral, upang hindi gamitin ang mga probisyon nito para abusuhin ang karapatang pantao. “We worked on the Human Security Act very assiduously and meticulously because I think, in all honesty, that it is the most terrifying piece of legislation ever submitted to the hall of Congress," aniya. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV