SEPT.

8, 2013

NR # 3220

Bill prohibits use of words in mass media that denote religious, cultural affiliation
A lawmaker is urging Congress to prohibit the practice in media of labeling criminal suspects according to their religious or ethnic culture. Rep. Pangalian M. Balindong (2nd District, Lanao del Sur) filed House Bill 1447, which prohibits the use of the words Muslim and Christian to describe any person suspected of or convicted for having committed criminal or unlawful acts. Balindong said that while a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the manner of reporting or writing about certain persons suspected of having committed various crimes are offensively biased not only to the person himself but to their culture, nationality or collective image as well. It may be said that there is already the practice in media of labeling criminal suspects according to their religious or ethnic culture; thus they are described as Muslim terrorists or Muslim bandits which smacks of being highly discriminatory, Balindong said. The Deputy Speaker for Mindanao said this labeling contributes to the mindset that the Muslims as a whole, in an undesirable, ethnic group of people saying further that in the minds of many, they are already guilty until proven innocent. Balindong said the whole Filipino nation rose in uproar in protest against the definition and branding by some first world countries of a maid as a Pinay simply because there are so many Filipina overseas workers working as such. Why then is our media doing the same to our Muslim countrymen? Indeed, our Muslim brothers are a minority among the Filipino majority, but should be treated with the same respect and privileges as any other Batangueo, Visayan or other Filipino citizen, Balindong said. Under the bill, it shall be unlawful for any person to use in mass media, any word that would denote religious, regional or ethnic affiliation to describe any person suspected of or convicted for having committed criminal or unlawful acts Violators are penalized with imprisonment of not less than 6 months or a fine of not more than P10,000 or both at the discretion of the courts. If the violator is the editor-in-chief in the case of print media and the news editor in the case of broadcast media and other forms of mass media, a fine of not lower than P50,000 shall be imposed. If a juridical entity is a violator of this Act, a fine not lower than P50,000 shall be imposed for every violation and the penalties shall be doubled for the second and succeeding offenses as provided under the bill. (30) mvip