A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking penalties against paparazzi who trespass “to capture images or other reproductions of people’s private lives for commercial purposes.”
According to the House media bureau, Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado Arroyo and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed the bill to address people who violate privacy with the help of high-tech equipment like powerful telephoto lenses and hyperbolic microphones.
“Due to these developments, harassment and trespassing threaten not only public persons and their families, but also private persons and their families whose personal tragedies or circumstances beyond their control create media interest,” Rep. Arroyo said.
If passed into law, intrusion will be punishable with one month to six months in prison and a fine of PHP1,000. If the intrusion of privacy causes serious injury, the penalty will be from six years to 12 years in prison plus a fine of PHP20,000. If the intrusion causes death, violators face 12 years to 20 years in prison and a 50,000-peso fine.
