President Duterte has signed the measure expanding the coverage of the so-called Sotto Law which allows journalists to protect the identities of their sources.
Republic Act No. 11458, a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1255 and House Bill No. 684, was signed by Duterte on Aug. 30.
Under the new measure, media practitioners cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news item disseminated through mass media which was related to them in confidence.
The law covers any publisher, owner, or duly recognized or accredited journalist, writer, reporter, contributor, opinion writer, editor, columnist, manager, and media practitioner involved in the writing, editing, production, and dissemination of news for mass circulation of any print, broadcast, wire service organization, or electronic mass media, including cable TV and its variants.
They are, however, required to reveal their sources if the court or the House of Representatives or the Senate find that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State.
The law will take effect 15 days after its publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation.
Senate Bill 1255 was authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. House Bill 684 was authored by Cebu City Representative Raul del Mar.
The new law amends Republic Act No. 53 or the “Act to Exempt the Publisher, Editor, or Reporter of any Publication from Revealing the Source of Published News or Information Obtained in Confidence” as amended by RA 1477. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
