Lawmaker withdraws from Right of Reply Bill debate

MANILA, Philippines - One of the main authors of the Right of Reply Bill (RORB) in the House of Representatives has decided to withdraw from deliberations on the controversial measure, citing conflict of interest.

“I was part of the committee deliberations before, hoping and trying to strike a balanced bill,” Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said.

Abante, who also heads the House committee on public information deliberating on House Bill 3306 (RORB), said he might abstain when the proposed measure is put to a vote.

Debates on RORB, which was up for consideration on second reading approval in plenary, have not yet resumed due to absence of quorum since session resumed last July 27, when President Arroyo delivered her last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Abante said he will no longer sponsor HB 3306, pointing out conflict of interest being a member of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and host of a television program on government-owned NBN-4.

The House leadership designated Alagad Rep. Rodante Marcoleta to sponsor the bill on the floor. In a media forum, Marcoleta said he accepted the challenge of defending the bill that he described as a “complete picture of due process.”

Marcoleta, however, said the absence of quorum hinders the immediate approval of the bill.

He also believes that all persons who are accused, criticized and maligned in media should have the right to reply to the charges or criticisms.

Marcoleta said the House version has been watered down, compared to the version of the Senate.

Penalties for the first and second offenses should not exceed the penalties provided in the Code of Ethics while for the third offense, violators will slapped with a fine of not more than P10,000.

The so-called “blocktime” broadcasters who will tolerate the use of foul, profane, obscure or dirty language on air will be penalized with a fine of P25,000 under the RORB.

Media entities and organizations have expressed strong objection to the proposal, claiming it would curtail press freedom.

Speaker Prospero Nograles earlier hinted the House leadership would probably pass the RORB that media entities have described as a form of censorship upon the insistence of senators who authored the measure.

“The senators have been following it up from us. We have no choice but to take it up, especially because 19 senators have endorsed that bill,” Nograles said.

Nograles said the senators, led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., have been inquiring on the status of HB 3306.

The RORB is under Committee Report 207, which is up for consideration on second reading approval in plenary.

Nograles admitted that the House leadership is determined to act on the measure, which has been assailed by the media industry as being confiscatory in nature. The main author of the bill is Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Several senators, particularly presidential aspirants Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda, have withdrawn their support for the controversial measure.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara urged a review of the current list of authors and co-authors of the measure though he has already withdrawn his support.