The fear of media practitioners that the bill on right of reply will curtail the freedom of the press is completely unfounded, based on the following reasons:
• The bill on right of reply merely gives a person unduly maligned by the media to express the other side of a controversy in which they are unduly maligned, with more or less equal treatment as the report being questioned;
• This bill will instill a greater sense of responsibility among journalists, and even boost the credibility and objectivity of the media, while at the same time, enhance the freedom of expression of the people;
• This bill recognizes the fact that the freedom of the press in this country is not absolute. The spirit of fair play and balanced reporting ordains that both sides of the controversy are presented, thereby requiring the corresponding obligation to allow the reply indicated above from persons unduly maligned by the media.
Ultimately, the enactment of the right of reply will redound to the benefit of the media practitioners. — Atty. LUZVIMINDA D. LAVARIAS, Director IV, Office of Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.