Press Release
September 25, 2019

Press Statement Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III

On Sotto III Law

"I AM GRATEFUL to President Duterte for recognizing the importance of this measure. I have always been and will always be a strong advocate of the freedom of information and an avid guardian of the rights that our journalists justly deserve.

The Philippine media will always thrive in the freedoms that our forefathers have sought and successfully won to ensure democracy in our country. Our Constitution and our laws ensure that the right of the public to fair, accurate and reliable information will never be trampled upon, and that constitutional privileges enjoyed by members of the media industry will always be recognized and respected.

The enactment of Republic Act No. 11458, or the Act expanding the coverage of exemptions from revealing the source of published news or information obtained in confidence by including journalists from broadcast and news agencies, is proof that this government will never waver from its responsibility to protect journalists from legal and security threats.

The pertinent section of this measure states: "Without prejudice to his liability under the civil and criminal laws, any publisher, owner, or duly recognized or accredited journalist, writer, reporter, contributor, opinion writer, editor, columnist, manager, media practitioner involved in the writing, editing, production and dissemination of news for mass circulation, of any print, broadcast, wire service organization or electronic mass media, including cable TV and its variants, cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news item, report or information appearing or being reported or disseminated through said media, which was related in confidence to the abovementioned media practitioners unless the court or the House of Representatives or the Senate or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State."

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