“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,” Article III, Section 4, 1987 Philippine Constitution
All members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines across the nation condemn in the strongest terms the Supreme Court’s junking of all four motions for reconsideration on the Cybercrime Prevention Law (RA 101075).
Last Tuesday, during their summer session in Baguio City, the High Tribunal denied all the petitioners — including the joint petition of NUJP, Philippine Press Institute and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility —against the Cybercrime Law.
In the same e-mailed statement, Te disclosed that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Jose Mendoza and Marvic Leonen maintained their dissent, while Associate Justices Presbiterio Velasco, Jr. and Estela Bernabe abstained in the decision.
At least, Justice Marvic Leonen was honest when he stated on his dissenting opinion on the 12-2-1-decision of the Supreme Court that “…the court’s competence to deal with these issues needs to evolve as we understand the context and detail of each technology implicated in the acts that are alleged to violate law or the Constitution.”
We are appalled at the High Tribunal’s decision as it now appears that this administration cannot digest legitimate dissent.
Further, it is appalling that the administration has professed again and again that it is built on the foundation of democratic tenets.
We choose to remain steadfast in asserting our right to free press, speech, and expression.
We are one with the rest of the libertarians in condemning this latest travesty to the freedom of expression.
We call on everyone to continue asserting our constitutionally guaranteed rights and to fight against this railroaded anti-people and undemocratic law.
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