Right of reply should cover exposés in Congress - ex-lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - Former Northern Samar congressman Wilmar P. Lucero has called on the authors of the Right of Reply Bill to modify the measure to cover exposés of alleged wrongdoing and anomalies made by members of Congress in privilege speeches and press conferences.

A former newspaperman, Lucero said that giving those criticized by members of Congress a chance to reply to accusations of alleged wrongdoing and irregularities would give true meaning to the right being sought by its authors and ensure fairness in the exercise of the freedom of speech and expression.

“Some erring lawmakers tend to abuse their parliamentary immunity through unfounded exposés in Congress that obviously smack of political motives and character assassination against their political enemies,” said Lucero, who complained he was victimized by this vicious “abuse of parliamentary privilege.”

He said that the modified bill should expressly provide that those named in such exposés should have the express right to refute the accusations in the same forum or venue in the interest of fairness and justice.

However, Lucero aired apprehension that the original right of reply bill introduced by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Rep. Monico Puentevella may violate the fundamental provision of the Constitution embodied in the Bill of Rights that “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of the press, free speech and of assembly.”

“Enacting a law requiring newspapers and broadcast media to allow a person named in a print or broadcast report to reply to an accuser would amount to prior restraint in the exercise of the freedom of the press,” Lucero, a former regional director of the Public Information Agency, said.

He explained that there is no need for such a law as it is inherently the duty of media to impose upon themselves public accountability.

Lucero pointed out that any form of government control on press freedom would render the latter not free anymore. “The best control should come not from government but from within the media industry and practitioners themselves,” the former Northern Samar congressman stressed.