Escudero wants media killing classified as murder

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Francis Escudero is seeking to have the killing of journalists classified as murder under the Revised Penal Code.

The Senate committee on justice and human rights chairman had recommended that Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, which provides for crimes that are categorized as murder, be amended to include the clause “on occasion, in the course or by reason of his or her lawful exercise of duties or functions” referring to members of print and broadcast media.

It was also proposed that crimes against journalists be punished with reclusion perpetua (maximum of 40 years) to death once proven that these were committed with treachery and/or premeditation. 

Signing the committee report were Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws chairman, her vice-chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, as well as Senators Loren Legarda, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Sergio Osmeña III, and Franklin Drilon.

Senators Joker Arroyo and Francis Pangilinan also signed the report but expressed interest in interpellating Escudero over some questions on the constitutionality of the proposal once the report is brought to the plenary. 

Senators Edgardo Angara, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also signed the report, along with ex-officio members Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.