Press Release
September 4, 2008

KIKO MOVES TO AMEND ANTIQUATED LIBEL LAW

With the arrest of Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet for a libel case filed against the journalist in 1999, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today called on fellow lawmakers to rethink the antiquated libel law.

"The Libel Law has remained essentially unamended for almost 80 years. Panahon nang pag-aralan ang posibleng pag-amyenda, o kung maaaring pagbasura sa nasabing batas," Kiko said.

Macasaet, 72, was arrested by operatives of the Detective and Special Operations Division (DSOD) of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) while having lunch at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.

"Our current libel law is a vestige of our colonial past. Being a former mediaman myself, I know the inherent sense of duty of journalists to seek the truth. On the other hand, privacy and reputation must not be totally brushed aside as well. The legislators should sit down and discuss the possible crafting of a libel law contemporaneous and reflective of the current situations," Kiko ended.

News Latest News Feed