Cebu Citizens-Press Council

RESOLUTION ON BILLS
PROMOTING JOURNALISTS’ WELFARE
10th Quarterly Meeting
Cebu Citizens-Press Council
March 24, 2008

Acknowledging

The good intentions of Sen. Loren Legarda for her Senate Bill #1398 and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for his Senate Bill #9, as recited in the preamble of each proposal;

The merit of some provisions in the bills that are aimed at protecting and improving the welfare of journalists;

Believing, however,

There are sufficient laws in the Labor Code and special laws that regulate employees’ relations with their employers and the proposals of the two good senators might duplicate existing legislation;

Journalists are not special people who seek more benefits than those extended to other laborers in the working class; even their request for protection against impunity killings is no greater than the plea of all other citizens that their government assure their personal safety;

Affirming

Our belief that the press, with all the laws already in place to make it responsible–including laws on libel, contempt, national security, and obscenity–doesn’t need any more form of regulation;

Our strong conviction that government interference with workings of the press will be seen as, or result into, erosion of its freedom; thus, a national coordinating council under the said bills will abridge freedom of the press;

Our faith in self-regulation of media: within each news organization or outlet and with the moderating influence of such bodies as citizens-press councils and print and broadcast associations;

Our trust that competition and other market forces, as well as public reproach of erring media, help in curbing any excess or abuse by the journalist or his media outlet.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the Cebu Citizens-Press Council thank Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for their concern about journalists’ protection and welfare but earnestly request them to reconsider their bills;

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER to ask the two good senators to support instead current proposals to amend the libel law to make it less stringent and oppressive.

APPROVED AND SIGNED this 24th day of March 2008 at the MBF Cebu Press Center in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines.