Tag: libel

Online libel, freedom of information, and what Filipinos have done with their freedom

February 24, 2014February 25, 2014 FallenAngel 35 Comments

Outrage in the citizenry continues erupting over the recent ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the online libel clause in Republic Act 10175, A.K.A. the Cybercrime Law. Due to the online libel clause not being declared unconstitutional, social media is abuzz with discussion that the end of “freedom of speech” and “freedom of expression” draws…

Civics, Culture, Government, Media, Society

Decriminalisation or repeal of libel law: It’s about time the Philippines becomes a modern country

February 21, 2014February 21, 2014 benign0 49 Comments

It is not surprising that Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III wholeheartedly supports criminal libel in the Philippines. Luis Teodoro, BusinessWorld columnist and former dean of the College of Mass Communications of the University of the Philippines, wrote in a 2003 article about how the spectre of harassment-by-libel emerged in the Philippine scene so…

Civics, Crime, Government, Media, Politics

Aquino anti-cybercrime law curtailing freedom of speech ruins significance of EDSA people power revolution

February 20, 2014February 25, 2014 Ilda 58 Comments

The celebration for the 28th anniversary of EDSA People Power revolution will be low key according to Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. Instead of holding it at EDSA where it was held traditionally, it will be held in Cebu province. The reason given was “because the province was the bulwark of the opposition to the…

Development, Government, Politics

Filipino netizens on edge as online libel criminalized under RA 10175 (the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012)

February 19, 2014February 19, 2014 benign0 42 Comments

The Philippine Supreme Court reportedly upheld the libel provisions of Republic Act 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” which Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III signed into law in 2012. As expected, online hysterics have erupted over Philippine social media space with many online “activists” expressing loud indignation over what they perceive…

Crime, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Society, Technology

Bloody libel! Janet Lim Napoles versus Maria Ressa’s ‘social news network’ Rappler.com

August 7, 2013July 8, 2022 benign0 68 Comments

Funny how just a short time ago, Rappler.com CEO Maria Ressa was crying bloody libel over Katrina Stuart-Santiago’s article Going to the dogs — an article about the manner with which Ressa’s self-described “social news network” startup precipitated (and possibly encouraged) a broader “ganging up” on the University of Santo Tomas over a perceived favour…

Civics, Media, Politics

Senate drama sideshow: Yoly Ong and Juan Ponce Enrile’s exchange of lawsuits

January 28, 2013August 19, 2013 FallenAngel 28 Comments

As if Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile did not have enough on his plate this month from Senators Miriam Santiago, Antonio Trillanes, and Alan Peter Cayetano. As was reported a few days ago, he also has to deal with the counterclaim of Campaigns & Grey chairperson and Philippine Star columnist Yoly Villanueva-Ong. Ms. Ong filed…

Government, Media, Politics

Filipino viral videos: mere modern symptoms of a very old cultural dysfunction

November 19, 2012 benign0 32 Comments

As my colleague Ilda pointed out, Filipinos seem to be averse to speaking out. This may seem to be a counterintuitive assertion to make, given how Filipinos pride themselves with a tradition of flamboyant political activism, tacky spectacle in the way they practice freedom of speech in their mass media, and voluminous undifferentiated chatter in…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Lifestyle, Media

Hi-tech libel: Sec Leila De Lima guilty of spreading unverified info in 2011 persecution of Gloria Arroyo

October 9, 2012 benign0 21 Comments

After, a two-year track record of disrespecting governance institutions, undermining due process, and overall violating the public trust through its underhanded actions and bullying tactics, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) now expects Filipinos to believe it when it says that it will not go after bloggers and Internet users who “like,” share, re-tweet, or…

Crime, Government