Statement of FashionPulis on the TV Patrol Libel Report

August 11, 2015 marks a significant day in FashionPulis. The issue of libel is part of the life of anyone who is actively involved in media. With the proliferation of blogging as a means to bring the truth and opinions on social issues and entertainment, a blogger has to balance his/her act.

As a democratic country, freedom of speech is a right enjoyed by every citizen. However, our country is still one of the few that consider libel a crime. When someone is accused of libel, he or she can be arrested, detained, and jailed if proven that the article/story has malicious intentions to malign the aggrieved party. One has to undergo the process and trust that justice is blind.

Top journalists, entertainment writers, broadsheets, and networks have been sued for libel for articles/stories that some parties have deemed offensive. Most of these cases drag for years unless settlement has been done by parties early. Sometimes, these cases are dismissed regardless of the duration of hearings.

Sadly, the libel law along with other similar laws is being used to attempt to silence journalists and others engaged in similar professions. Noted writer, Isagani Cruz states, “Even more unfortunately for us Filipinos, however, a libel charge does not have to be justified in order to make journalists tremble in fear.” With libel laws hovering in the midst of media practitioners, still, truth and opinion must prevail. Although, once in a while, a media practioner may stumble, he/she will rise again because the message must be told. The audience awaits and silence out of fear should never prevail.

Thank you, dear readers, for supporting FashionPulis.