A group of lawmakers yesterday moved to change the current wording of the article in the constitution protecting free speech.
Article III Section IV of the constitution states “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
But these lawmakers want to limit the constitutional protections to “responsible” free speech and expression only.
According to an article in CNN Philippines, Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro (2nd district) said that many believe, because of the lack of a modifier on free speech, the constitutional guarantee of free speech has been “unrestrained” and that “there has been so much abuse to this freedom.”
A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer said, “According to the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, in their position paper dated Oct. 10, the right to free speech, or any right enshrined in the Bill of Rights, comes with an equal burden of responsibly exercising the same,” the subcommittee said.
It added: “It further said that the exercise of one’s rights must be done with good faith and reasonable care.”
Rep. Gary Alejano, an opposition lawmaker, however, expressed concern over adding “responsible” to the article protecting free speech.
“How [will] you define responsible?” he said in a press conference yesterday.
“What is ‘responsible’ for them? Are fake news and propaganda responsible? When they say responsible, they are referring only to those that favor them,” he said.
Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. highlighted that the subcommittee’s move comes on the heels of the news over the Securities and Exchange Commission revoking the registration of news website Rappler.
“What is happening now is everybody is proposing changes to the constitution that they feel the current administration wants,” Baguilat said.
The Philippine Congress is currently looking into convening into a Constitutional Assembly to amend the 1987 constitution. Both houses are already looking into proposing amendments, especially shifting the current form of government to a federal system.
(Check out Rappler’s explainer on charter change here)
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