CHR: TRO shows need to amend cybercrime law

 CEBU, Philippines - The issuance of a temporary restraining order against the cybercrime law strengthens the call for its amendment.

This was according to Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Loretta Rosales in an interview after her speech during the Lady Mayors League Visayas-Mindanao Convention yesterday.

Rosales said some of the provisions of Republic Act 10175 otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, particularly the on-line libel provisions, can be used to curtail freedom of speech and silence the media.

Rosales said she will be filing an advisory as to the issue of on-line libel.  She added libel in other countries has been removed and repealed because it violates the freedom of the people. 

Rosales also said what hackers are committing can be considered a violation of the freedom of information of other citizens.

The issuance of TRO was a unanimous decision of the associate justices in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter Earl Bonachita said the issuance of TRO signifies the urgency to provisionally stop the implementation of the cybercrime law.

He said this is to prevent probable damage to the petitioners while the main case is still being heard.

The cybercrime law was supposed to be implemented on Oct. 3, 2012 but various petitions were filed against it before the Supreme Court.

Just this week, the TRO was issued to stop the implementation of the said law.   (FREEMAN)