Cebu media to have database on law

CEBU, Philippines - To protect the media workers, the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC), the Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City and Cebu chapters yesterday agreed to come up with a database containing laws affecting them.

“There is a need for a database that comprises the law and jurisprudence affecting media and journalists and a record of incidents regarding violence, abuse, or harassment of journalists and their co-workers, with focus and emphasis on the Cebu experience,” read a portion of the memorandum of agreement signed by the CCPC, Cemla, IBP-Cebu City Chapter and IBP-Cebu Chapter.

This project, called Cebu Journlaw, is said to help those in the law and media industries, “not only for purposes of litigation but also for research on news stories and in defending against proposed legislation and acts of government that may impinge on press freedom.”

It is in this information that journalists can avoid libel, contempt and abuses brought about by their work.

“It will also be beneficial to any study of the growth of Cebu journalism and journalism practices that show efforts at sharpening the journalists’ sense of accountability to the public and the rest of society,” read the MOA.

The signing was done at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center, and attended by Sabino Dapat, vice president of CCPC; Atty. Elias Espinoza, president of Cemla; Earl Bonachita, president IBP-Cebu City; and Atty. Fernand Pepito, president, IBP-Cebu. It was witnessed by Elias Baquero, president of Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists and Atty. Ruphil Bañoc, chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Cebu.  (FREEMAN)