Cuenco yet to decide on Right of Reply Bill

CEBU, Philippines – Contrary to earlier reports, Cebu City south district Representative Antonio Cuenco clarified he would wait for the final version of the Right of Reply Bill before deciding whether or not to support the controversial piece of legislation.

“I am adopting an open mind. I will wait what will be the final version of the bill,” Cuenco said of dySS.

Cuenco also said there should be a thorough consultation with members of the media across the country before Congress drafts the final version. There two versions of the bill at present- House Bill 3306 in the lower house and Senate Bill 2150 in the upper house, the latter being the “harsher” version, Cuenco said.

Yesterday, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the proponent of Senate Bill 2150, reiterated that the Right of Reply Bill will not in any way curb press freedom, but is rather intended to penalize mediamen that abuse their power.

“The bill is only made for those who abuse their power and neglect their responsibilities. Good media practitioners should not be scared with this bill,” Pimentel said during the weekly “Kapihan sa Manila.”

Pimentel said that if the press can criticize people publicly through their respective outfits, the people being subjected to criticisms must also be allowed to defend themselves using the same facility.

“I welcome all criticisms against this bill. It will help us refine its provisions. We are in a democratic country, there is always room for criticisms,” he said.

Last Saturday, Manila Fifth District Representative Beinvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the house committee on public information, was in Cebu to get the views of members of local media on the bill.

The Right of Reply Bill seeks to grant the right of reply to anyone who feels they have been poorly treated by the media and proposes a maximum fine of P50,000 for media groups that fail to comply, or up to six months in prison for the offending individual. — Johanna Natavio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)