source: PNA
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she supports the inclusion of online libel in the Cybercrime Prevention Act, saying the law should be enforced and tested before any amendments are pursued.
â€I support President Benigno Aquino’s stand, freedom of speech and expression must always be tempered with responsibility and accountability,†said Garcia.
â€While there is a libel law that can be applied against broadcast or print, the social media are practically unregulated,†Garcia said.
Garcia is running for the third district’s congressional seat in Cebu, which will be her first legislative position if she wins.
At least 10 petitions have been filed asking the Supreme Court to strike down Republic Act 101751, which the president signed into law in mid-September.
The law also provides penalties for cybersex, identity theft and online fraud.
Garcia said the uproar of the bloggers and users of Twitter and Facebook users is understandable, yet she believes it is time that regulations on social media be introduced.
The governor is also a Twitter user (@gwengarcia1ph).
â€Perhaps, it’s really the time that there must be some form of regulation because while we will always uphold the freedom of expression such freedom comes with responsibility and accountability,†she said.
â€All other freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution but at the same time, there are laws that define our freedom; we need parameters and standards by which freedom may be exercised,†Garcia said.
But Akbayan party-list Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel said the law should be amended right away because of its unconstitutional provisions.
â€The cybercrime bill started with a good intention, which was to combat cyber-bullying, crimes in the Internet, including the terrible crime of human trafficking. But what happened is that not only was the provision on cyber bullying removed, unconstitutional provisions were also inserted,†Baraquiel said.
The controversial law expands libel, as defined in the Revised Penal Code, to the internet but provides for penalties one degree tougher.
In the code, the penalty for a libel conviction is six months and a day up to six years of imprisonment or fine of P200 to P6,000, or both penalties.
In the Cybercrime Prevention Act, which took effect last October 3, the prison term is six to 12 years in jail, in addition to other penalties.
Gov. Garcia's brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district), earlier said he voted for the passage of the House’s version of the cybercrime law.
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