Mass Media

Laws and Regulations

in the Philippines
Annotated Compilation
(with commentaries and other background material)
by Luis V.
and Rosalinda V. Kabatay

3rd Edition

CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION FOUNDATION. INC

ASIAN MEDIA INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION CENTRE

CONTENTS
Press
The Philippine Context
Freedom of Expression
The
of the Law
The Philippine Judicial System
The Philippine Press
Note
A Quick Guide to the Laws on the Philippine Communication Media
All
Communication Media
1. Constitutional Provisions
Freedom of Expression
The Right to Information
The Right to Privacy
The Commission on Elections
Policy
for
Ownership
Section
Constitution Applied
2. Provisions Relevant to Mass Media in the Revised Penal Code
of the Philippines [Act No. 3815, as amended]
a Crimes Against National Security and Public Order
b. Libel - Crime Against Honor
c
Customs
3. Provisions in the New Civil Code
[Republic Act No. 386, as amended]
Note
4. Special Laws
The "Shield Law"
Note
b. Copyright
definition; purpose
Right
Social Function
The
Between Copyright and
Speech
Intellectual Property (IP)
Present Law on Copyright
Background
The Intellectual Property Code (IPC) Republic Act. N o 8293 ..
USTR Priority Watch List
Update
The
Printing
Law & International Treaties on Copyright
Basic Information on Copyright
How Copyright is Acquired
Works are protected by the sole fact of their creation
Registration and Deposit with the Government
Offices
forInfringement

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PHILIPPINE MASS MEDIA

A N D REGULATIONS

Works
Covered; Nature of Copyright
and Rights of Copyright Owner
Other
Fair Use & Decompilation
Loss of Copyright
of Copyright
Enforcement of IP Right
Note
c Fair Election Act
Background
Salient Provisions
The Law in Operation
Ban on Publication of Election Surveys Unconstitutional
Distinguished from National Press
v. Comelec
(207 SCRA 1 [1992]) and
& Garcia v.
Comelec (288 SCRA 447 [1998])
Note
B. Laws and Codes for the Print Industry
Textbook Reprinting Law Repealed
Publication of Judicial Notices
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
(MTRCB) and Publicity Materials
The Book Industry Development Act
No. 8047)
Taxation
The Campus
1991 [Republic
No. 7079]
Section 7, Republic Act No. 7079 Applied
The Philippine Journalist's Code of Ethics
Note
C
for
Industry
1. Laws for Mass Media Practitioners Engaged in Broadcast
Prohibition of Live Radio
TV Coverage of
Court Proceedings
The Rule on the Examination of A Child Witness
Exclusion from the courtroom of all
including members of the press
television testimony
Videotaped deposition
Publication of identity contemptuous
2. Laws and Regulations for Broadcast Companies
Franchise and Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity
Legislative Franchise
MTRCB Authority to Review Public Affairs Programs
Self-regulation by me Undertaking of the Grantee
b. The Register
Laws (RTL), The
Laws, Executive
Presidential or Administrative
Issuances Affecting
and Their
Rules and Regulations
c Regulation

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45
46
48
48
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51

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Government Regulation

75
76

The Kapisanan ng
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (the
Association of Broadcasters of the PhilippinesA member withdraws
The Advertising Board of the
Inc. (ADBOARD)
Resignation of the KBP from
Adboard
for
for
Stations
Note
D. Laws and Codes for the Film Industry and

Media

Republic Act
9167 - Creating the Film Development
Council of the Philippines
A Long and Arduous Legal Journey
Republic
9167 - Salient Provisions
Decree
1986 - The MTRCB
The MTRCB and the Presidency
2.
Media
the Optical Media
2003...
OMB Rules and Regulations
OMB
MTRCB
Note
E
for
Advertising Industry
Historical Background
Constitutional Limitations
Consumer Act of the Philippines
The Consumer A a (Republic A a No. 7394) and E-Commerce
Law (Republic A a No. 8792)
Tobacco 2003
Salient
No. 9211
Implementation
ADBOARD
of Ethics
Billboards
Billboards Subject to Police Power
Ethics Review
Note
E
New Media
The Internet
Cyberspace
Laws Applicable to the Internet
The Internet as a Communication Medium
The Internet in the Philippines
Ten Years
Internet in the Philippines
Philippine Newspapers Online
2. New
Old Media
3. The Philippine Government Offices
Media
Government Web Presence
The Philippine Judiciary and New Media
4.
No.

76
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78
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81
81
83
83
83
83
85
86
88
89
89
90
91
92
93
93
94
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96
96
97
98
99
100
103
105
105
107
107
107
109

114
1!5

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PHILIPPINE MASS MEDIA

A N D REGULATIONS

Salient
No. 8792
& Legal Recognition
Electronic Signatures
Contracts
Penal Provisions
Cases Under the
Law
First
Libel Case
Update on
Lovebug
Case
First Conviction under the
Law
Bar Exam Questions Hacked; Lawyer Disbarred
Law & the Consumer
5. Cellular Phones
Phones)
Text Messaging
Texring and the Presidency
Text as Evidence
Regulating Text Messaging
Communications
Internet Pornography
6. Convergence
Note
7.
and Information and
Communication Technology (ICT)
Telecommunications
Key Players in
Government Regulatory Bodies
Policy and Regulatory Framework
Ownership Communication
Ownership of Physical
and Section 28 of the
Aa
Aa
8792)
ServicefVAS)
Summary
the Characteristics
the Regulations
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Strategy of the
Administration
Note
III. Commentaries on the
Mass
and Media Laws
The Historical Perspective
Freedom (liberty), Law, Mass Media and Common Good
Freedom of Expression
Scope
History of Protection, Historical Influence
Constitutional Guaranty
Note
1. The Spanish Era (1521-1898)
2. American Rule
3. The Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)
4. The Philippine Republic from 1946 (after the Commonwealth
Period) to 1972 (before Martial Law)
Manuel Roxas
b. Elpidio Quirino (1948-1953)
c Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957)
d. Carlos Garcia (1957-1961)

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126
127
128
129
130
132
135
135
137
137
139
140
141
141
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149
149
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OF CONTENTS
Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965)
Ferdinand Marcos
Note
5. The Martial Law Period (1972-1986)
Martial
Mass Media
b. The Years
of Martial Law (1972-1977)
The Emergence of the "Alternative Press"
More Laws Aimed at
Arrest, Search and Seizure Order
(ASSO); Presidential Committment Order (PCO)
d. The Predominance
Note
6. The Restoration of Democracy
The Aquino Administration
b. I legislative Acts Under the Aquino Administration
Affecting Mass Media
c Expression
the
Democracy
Note
IV Case Law/Jurisprudence
A
of Expression,
Press
[1987 Constitution,
3, Section 4]
Expression
in
Jurisprudence
Freedom of Expression Not Absolute
1. Due Process
2. Forms of Abridgement of
Prior Restraint and Subsequent Punishment
Prior Restraint
b. Freedom from Subsequent Punishment
1. The Dangerous Tendency Rule
2.
Test
3. The Balancing of Interests Test
Note
B. The Right to Information
[1987 Constitution, Article 3, Section
The Constitutional Provision Granting Access to
Information and Related Provisions
Other provisions related to therightto information
to
Self-Executing Right
b. Rationaleforthe Right to Information
c
May Assert the Right
Rights Guaranteed
1.
ftiblkConcem
2. Access to Official Records
Limits of Rights
Recognized Restrictions
GMAs
464 - Executive Privilege as an exemption
to the power of legislative
the general power
Congress
information)
Whether
464 contravenes the power of inquiry
vested in Congress

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PHILIPPINE MASS MEDIA

A N D REGULATIONS

Whether
464 violates the right of the people
to information on marten
concern
Rights of the
Live Coverage of the Trial
Motion for Reconsideration, September 13, 2001
Mandatory Publications of Laws as a Means of
Implementing Right to Information
Publication of statutes that do not directly apply
to people in general
g. Right to Information in Statutes
Right to Information in Practice
The Supreme Court and Media
Note
C Limits to Freedom of
of Expression, and of the Press
and the Right to Information
1. Right to Privacy
Concept
Threats to Privacy
b. Philippine Laws on Privacy-Basis
c Natural Laws and Privacy
The 1987 Constitution on Privacy
i.
Correspondence
The
Tapping Law
The Bill of Rights and Private Individuals
ii. Search and Seizure (Article III, Section 2)
The Right of Privacy in Private Law and Other Laws

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220

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224
225
225
228
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230
230
234
234
236
237
237
238
240
241

ii. The Revised Penal Code

Rules of Court
Rules of Admissibility
iv. Special Laws
Youthful Offenders
Rape Victims
Cases Tried by the
Courts
Child Abuse
Aids Patients
v. Computers and Privacy
First Philippine
on Cyberspace
First Philippine Jurisprudence on Privacy
and the Computer
AO. No. 308 (1996)
EO.
420 (2005)
Privacy and Public Figure
Wider Concept of the "Public Figure"
Four major privacy actions
Privacy applied by the KBP
Note
2. National Security
to Press Freedom

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244
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246

Law

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TABLE O F CONTENTS
b. Cases on National Security and Press Freedom During the
Marcos Period
c Cases on National Security after 1986
d. National Security Issues
Sedition
Rebellion
The Drug Menace
Terrorism
The KBP Response
Proclamation No. 1017
Calibrated Preemptive Response or CPR
The Public Assembly
Note

3.

270
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277
278
279
281
282
283
288
295

298
History and Rationale
b.
Libel Law
c
Laws on Libel;
Responsible
d. Laws Applied to Cases
1. Article 353 - Elements
a Libel by means of publication of photograph
b. Publication means "to
public"
c Identifiablity
Malice
Actual
in Fact in Privileged Communications ....
Actual malice and the
No libelous imputation if embraced by guarantees of
free speech and press
2. Article 354 - Requirement
Presumption
Privileged Communication
Presumption of Malice
b. Malice is not pressumed in
c Enumeration under Art 354 not an exclusive
genesis
of rule on privileged communications
d
for
Concept
Faa that communication is privileged does not mean it is
not
Privileged Communication' Classes - Absolute and
Conditional or Qualified
Cases illustrating
354(1)
i. Qualified
ii.
qualified privileged
Case illustrating Art 354 (2): A newspapers faithful and
accurate summary of what was testified to by a witness in
a pending
case is not libelous
Doctrines related to
Communication
comment
fair
Neutral reportage
3.
Libel
Means

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MASS M E D I A LAWS A N D R E G U L A T I O N S
4. Article 358 - Slander (Oral Defamation)
5. Article 360 - Persons Responsible
6. Article
7. Sanctions
8. Defenses
9. "SPECIAL" CASE The
suit of former President
Corazon C Aquino against journalist Luis Beltran
Note
4. Obscenity
A Laws and Regulations on Obscenity
1. Revised Penal Code
2. Article
of the Revised Penal Code and
Decree No. 1986 dated Oaober 5, 1985 aeating the Movie and
Television
Classification Board (MTRCB)
3. Implementing Rules and Regulations of
No. 1986
Promulgated by
vs. the Power
to Review and Censor
The MTRCB Exercise Power
B. Obscenity - Legal Definition,
as seen in Philippine Cases
Obscenity/Pornography defined; effects
Role of Government and the Catholic Church
Pending Bill in Congress
Abolition of the MTRCB
D. Business and obscenity
Television & Advertising
Films and SM
Policy
The Economics of Sexy Films
Note
5. Fair Administration of Justice and Contempt
The Law on Contempt and Its Historical Background
b. What Constitutes for Administration of Justice
c Subjudice
d. Contempt
Forum
Contempt
Indirea Contempt
g. Acceptable
as not to
for Contempt
Comment and Defamation
h. Free Speech and
Administration of Justice
Comments of a Former Member of the Cabinet Re: The Court
i. Prejudicial Publicity
j. Important
Concept
k Contempt Without Relation to a Pending Case
1.
for
Freedom
1. Constitutional Law Norms
2. Civil Law Norms
3.
Journalist's
Ethics
4. Right to Private Honor and Reputation
Note

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342
351
352
355
356
357
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363
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TABLE O F C O N T E N T S
D. Issues and Problems - In Spirit and the Practice of Philippine Mass
Media Law
A History of Conflict
Journalists Killed
Intentions Versus Reality
Cooperative
Pressures on the Media
Areas of Coverage
Crisis of Information
Dissident Practitioners
The Challenge to Media
INDEX

386
386
389
392
393
396
399
401
403
404
406
412