Final Comm 120 - Shield Law PDF
Final Comm 120 - Shield Law PDF
Final Comm 120 - Shield Law PDF
the Philippines
A "shield law" is a law designed to
shield journalists from being forced to
reveal the sources of information they
gathered or obtained in confidence.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1477
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION ONE OF REPUBLIC
ACT NUMBERED FIFTY-THREE, ENTITLED
"An act to exempt the publisher, editor, columnist or
reporter of any publication from revealing the
source of published news or information obtained in
confidence"
THE ELEMENTS
What does the law protect?
- The shield law protects against COMPELLED
REVELATIONS.
Who are the persons covered by the shield law?
- As the law says, they are the PUBLISHER,
EDITOR, COLUMNIST and DULY ACCREDITED
REPORTER.
THE ELEMENTS
What is the subject which cannot be forcibly revealed?
- The law says that the SOURCE OF A NEWS REPORT
OR INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN RELATED IN
CONFIDENCE cannot be a subject of compelled revelation.
- The law also specifically requires that the news
report MUST HAVE APPEARED, meaning, it must have
been published.
THE ELEMENTS
What kind of publication does the shield law
protect?
- The law protects NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES and
PERIODICALS. Moreover, these publications must be
of GENERAL CIRCULATION.
THE ELEMENTS
We do not have an absolute Shield Law.
- The law says that if the revelation is demanded by
the SECURITY OF THE STATE, then the court, a
House or committee of the Congress can compel such
revelation.
THE SUBPOENA
Subpoenas are orders issued by courts to
compel persons to appear before them and
provide testimony or documents that can aid
in the investigation or the resolution of a
particular case.
THE SUBPOENA
Because they are court orders, failure to comply with them
may carry penalties.
The court or judge may issue a warrant to arrest the
witness and bring him before the court.
Paying for the costs of such warrant and seizure of
witness (if the court shall determine that the failure to
answer the subpoena was willful, and without just excuse).
Imprison the witness for contempt.
- YES.
Resisting a SUBPOENA
The procedure is to file a motion to
"quash" the subpoena.
CASE IN Point:
CAVITE REP. ELPIDIO BARZAGA JR.
versus
CHRISTINE HERRERA
What happened?
June 9, 2015-- Christine Herrera along
with two other reporters from The Standard, Rey
Requejo and Maricel Cruz attended the House
probe on the alleged bribery from Chinese crime
lord Wang Bo.
This is a very serious accusation affecting the very
institution. I would move that Mrs. Herrera be cited
in contempt until she provides the information of
congressman and high officials!
- Barzaga, June 2015
What happened?
During the hearing last June 2015, Herrera stood
by her silence and said she should protect the identity of
her sources. She also invoked Republic Act No. 1477, also
known as the Shield Law, which states that media
practitioners cannot be compelled to reveal the source of
any news report except for matters concerning national
security.
What happened?
July 2015 A much calmer, Cavite
Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. appeared in
court and withdrew his motion to cite Christine
Herrera in contempt after the reporter delivered a
statement that stressed the protection given to
her by the law to stop anyone from forcing her to
reveal her sources.
To take away the last vestiges of this protection will result
in chilling effect of the freedom of the press sanctioned by
the Constitution. To reveal the identities of my sources
against their wishes is tantamount to betrayal of
confidence by my valued informants. As journalist I
cannot overemphasize our reliance on this protection on
hard-hitting and controversial news reports.
- Herrera, 2015
Thank You!