MANILA: A legal counsel for the journalists who contested the legality of cyber libel before the Supreme Court fear that many media workers would face jail term as the High Tribunal dismissed all their motions for reconsideration.
In a statement, lawyer Harry Roque Jr of the Center for International Law, said he is also disappointed with the SC ruling.
“CenterLaw believes that this latest decision is an affront anew on freedom of expression and is a blatant disregard of the view expressed by the UN Human Rights Committee declaring criminal libel in the Philippines as being incompatible with freedom of expression,” Roque said.
He insisted that cyber libel is a “violation of Art. 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and should be condemned vigorously.”
Roque cited that the UN Human Rights Committee has declared criminal libel contrary to freedom of expression and that a prison term is not an appropriate sanction.