Ipinanukala kamakailan ni Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez na ipawalang-bisa ang parusang pagkabilanggo sa kaso ng libel, sa halip, itinulak nito na patawan ng mataas na danyos o penalty ang sinumang masesentasyahan sa nabanggit na kaso.
“Instead of looking deeply into issues that have a potential of affecting public interest and general welfare, the penalty of imprisonment has paved the way for members of media to approach their mandate with doubts and hesitation,” paliwanag ni Rodriguez.
Aniya, dahil sa penalty of imprisonment, marami sa mga kagawad ng media ang hindi magawa ang kanilang mandato dahil sa takot na mabilanggo.
“We cannot have that in a country where democracy is primarily infringed on the freedom of speech and expression, and where media is considered the Fouth Estate,” sabi pa ni Rodriguez.
Sa ilalim ng Article 352 ng Revised Penal Code, “libel is a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status or circumstances tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or juridical person or to blacken the memory of one who is already dead.”
Sa kasalukuyan, hanggang anim na taong pagkabilanggo ang katapat na parusa ng libel bukod sa P6,000 multa.
Sa House Bill 1835, ipinanukala ni Rodriguez na gawing P10,000 hanggang P30,000. Bibigyan din ng 60-day prescription period para i-file ang kasong libel sa petsa ng first publication, airing o exhibition ng libelous material.