Motion for Partial Reconsideration (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012)

7/22/2019 Motion for Partial Reconsideration (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/motion-for-partial-reconsideration-cybercrime-prevention-act-of-2012 1/8

SupremeCourtManila

En Banc

NATTONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTSOF

THE PHILIPPINES (NUJP), PHILIPPINE

PRESS INSTITUTE (PPI), CENTER FORMEDIA FREEDOM AND

RESPONSIBILITY, MELINDA QUINTOS-DEJESUS, ROWENA CARRANZA PARAAN,

ALWYN AI-BURO, ARIEL SEBELLINO

AND THE PETITIONERS IN THE C-

PETITIONrat0175

Petitiaten,

- uers*

THE EXECUTTVESECRETARY,ETAL.,Respmdes.

Petrtioners, hrougl-r ndersigned ounsel, espectfully

the Decision dated i8 February2014, md copy received27

grounds:

1 .

Republicof t}leP[ilippines

b-ttp:,1-l-v1vry.-a-uip.qtg,/-rlo-Jg:.

MOTION FOR PARTIAL RECONSIDERATION

G.R.No. 203453

For: Certiorari, Prohibitlon

and Injunction with

Application tbr Immediate

RestrainingOrder nnd Od.rer

Extrzordinzrn Legal and

Equit'rbleRelief

move tbr partralreconsideration f

Fcbruary 01'1, pon dre tbllorving

A. Section a(c)(4), which penalizes online libel' is

unconstitutional,' not only in regard to those who

receive or react to a postr but also in regard to the

In its Decision, he Honorable court upheld he constitutionality f online ibel, by

declaringhat section4(c) 4),which penaLzes nline ibel, s constirutionaln regard

to the originalauthorof a posg houghnot in regard o drosewho merely eceivedre

post or react o it. Petiuoners eg a secondook upon dle matter'

Article III. section4 of the 1987Constrtr-rtionf dre Philippines,whicl'rguarantees

freedom oF speech,of erpression,or oF the press,or the right of the people

peaceablyo assemble nd petitron he govemment or redress f grievances,hould

be read n conjunctionwith article 19 of the IntemationalCovenanton Civ and



3.

Political ughts, o which the Philippiness z pany.Article 19 of the ICCPR similarly

$raranteesreespeeclr.

Intemational reaties hat thePhi[ppinesrattf-tes,r to which the Philippinesaccedes,

suchas ntemationalhumanrights treaties,ike the ICCPR,becomepart Philippine

laws through transformation.l t is a processuncler:rticlc VII, sectron21 of the

Constrtution,which provides that '[n]o treaty or intemational rgreement hall be

valid and etfectiveunlessconcurred n bv at least wo-thirdsof all the membersof

the Senrte.'

Increasingly,n its Decisionsnvoh.ing undamentalreedomsandhumanrights, his

I{onorable Court has cited andreliedon intemationalhumanrights reaties, rnd he

rich internatronal ase aw, and other intemationaldocuments,explarning }rem, n

interpretingcounterparthuman rights provisions n the i987 Constitutron of thc

Philippines.'?etitionersassert hat this casecalls or a similar nterpretationof the

1987Constitutron f thePhrlippines.

In this regard, rticle19of the ICCPR statesn part:

2.Everl 'onehal l rre the ight o ieedom iexpresston:his rglr t h,r l l

include reedom o scek, eceive nd mpart nfbrmiitionrrncldeasoi'; l

krnds, eg:rdless f frontiers.eitheror.:rlh'.n rvriting or in pnnq in the tbrm

of art,or tlrough anv othermedi'roi hischorce.

6. In aplaining artide 19 of the ICCPR *re Lnited Nations Human fughts

Committee,dre bod.r chargedwr*r the dutv to supenise he implementationof the

ICCP\ hasstated:

47. Defamation aws must be crattedwith care o ensure hat they comply

with paragraph , and that drey do not serve,n practice,o stiflefreedomof

expression. ll such aws, n partrcular enaldefamationarvs, hould nclude

sucl-r efences s the defenceof trudr.and they shouldnot be applied vith

regard o those forms of expression iat arenot, of d-reirnature,subject o

verification. At least .*-ith regard to comments about public figures,

consideration hould be grven o avoidingpenalizingor odrerwise endering

unlawful untrue statements hat have been published n error but without

malice. n any event, a public interest n the subjectmatter of d.recriticismshould be recognized s a defence.Careshouldbe t:rkenby St2ltes arties o

avoid excessively uniuve measures nd penalties.Where relevant,States

partiesshouldplace easonableimits on dre requirementor a defend'anto

reimbursehe expenses f the successful arty.States artlesshouldconsider

the decrimina.lizationf def-amationand,in any case,he applicatronof the

criminal aw should only be countenancedn the most seriousoi cases nd

imprisonments neveran appropriateenaliv.t is impermissibleor a State

party to indict a person or criminal defamationbut drennot to proceed o

trral expedrtrously such a practicehas a chilling efl-ect hat may unduly

' PharmacwticalndHealthCarc ssociatioxf hePhi/)ppitus,Heath ecrenry,G.R.O. 173034, October2007.' See, or example,Sendary fNationalDefenseMana/0,G.R.No. 180906, October2008;andRalon

uTagitit,G.R.No. 182:198,December2009.

n



restrict the exercise f freedomoi expression t the personconcernedand

others.'(emphasisurs)

7. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the fugllt to

Preedom oi Opinion and Expression has cl:rrit-redurther:

72.'the

Special R,rpporteur remrins conccmed thirt lcgitimrrtc onlint:

expression s being criminalized n contrilyention of States'.nternationnl

human rights obligations, rvhether it rs through tl.re rpplication-oi

cxisting

criminal larvs to online expression, or d-rrough dle creation oi nerv lltrvs

specificallv lesignedo crimtnrlizeexpression n the Internct. Such arvsare

otlen justit-iedzrsbeing necess^q'to protect indir-iduals' reputrtion, nationrll

securitv or to counter terrorism. IIo*'ever, ir.r practice, thcv are ficquentll'

used o censorcontent that the Govemment irnd othcr porveriul entitiescl o

not like or asreervitlr.

73.The

SpecialRapporteur reiterates the call to all States to decriminrrlize

detamatron.Addition'all,v,he underscores thiit protection oi nirtion'rl securttv

or countenng terronsrn clnnot bc used to iustifv restricting the rigl.rt to

expressionunless it cm lte clemonstrirtccl hlt: (ir) the expression s intended

to incite imminent violence; (b) it is likclv to incite such r-iolence; ancl (c)

there is a direct and immediateconnection benvccn ie cxprcssion ntl the

hkc l :hood r occur renc( l 'such to lcnct o

(emphirsisours)

Besides, in Administratire Circular No. 08-2008, this Honorable Court 69[- l.rirs

declterl 21n

emergent

rule of preterence tbr the imposition oi fine onlyrather drrn

imprisonment in libel cases.'This Honorable Court h:rs thus instructed th:rt'All

courts and juclgesconcerned should hencetbrd.rtake note oi dle foregoing rule of

preferenceset bv the Supreme Court on the matter of the imposrtion of penalties br

tl.recrime of libel.'

9. The penaltv f imprisonmentbr online ibelundersection'l(c)J-rolzrtcsteespeecl1,

asguaranteedy article II, section oithe 1987Constinrtion,ead n coniunction

r.vitharticle19 of the ICCPR. Furtl.rermore,ection't(c)-t oesagainsthis Flonorable

Court'sorvnpreterenceor not imposing penaltv i imprisonmentn libelcrrses'

pret-erenceerhapsnspiredbv nothing essdran he constitutionztluarttntee f tree

speeclr. he questionedarvdepartsrom this I Ionor;rbleCor.rrt's osition rviceover'

Not onl,v s tl.rere penaltvof imprisonmentn the questionetlarv,but this penaltv

of imprisonment s l.rear-ier y 1009i, htrn tl-l^t tbr libel uncler he RevisedPen',tl

Code.

3UnitedNatior]sHumafl RightsCommittee,Gene[alCommentNo. 3'1,12 September 011,UN Doc

ccPR/c/GC/34. See2lsoRepo .t f theHumzr Rightscorlrnittee (2013),UN Doc A/rr8l.+t-)''ol. I).o

Reportof the SpecialRapporteuton the Promotion andProtection .rf he Right to F-r,eetlomf C)pinit.'n

zurdExpression, tank La Rue,16NIa,v 011,UN Doc .\/F{RC/17/27. The SpecialRapporteur san

ildepericlent rpert appoirtedby the UN HumanRightsCoutcil to exiur.rinetrcl cpor-t 2rck u his specifjc

hrunan ights herle. He ultir.r.utelyraces is authorin* o dreUN Charter',o s'-hich hc Phiiippiness a partv.



10. The questionedawhasa partrcularly hillingeFFectn online ournalism.Thesedays,

not only will a joumalist'swork be publishedusing traditionalmedia,but it rvill be

madeavarlable n the internet.Through the internet,drepeopleareable o respond

and discuss, sing a variew of socialplatForms, uchas facebookand twiner.'l'he

importance of the internet as an interactivemedium for lournalistsha^s teadily

grown. It l.ras ecomea powerfultool by which iournalists an engagehe peopleas

partnersn the searchor tl.reruth. The SpecialRapporteur asstatedn this regard:

19.\rery few if zrnydevelopments in information technologieshive hrd sucl.r

a revolutionary effect as the creation of dle Internet. Unlike any other

medium of communication, such as radio, television andpnnte d publications

based on one-way transmission of informanon, d1e Intemet represents ir

significant leap forward as an interactive medium. Indeed, with dre advent of

Web 2.0 services, or intermediary platforms that t-acilitate participatory

information sharing and collaboration in the cre'ation of content, individuals

are no longer passive recipients, but also active publishers of intbrmauon.

Such platforms are partrcularly valuable in countries where there is no

independent media, as they enable individuals to share critical views and to

find objectrve infbrmalon. Furthermore, producers oi tradition'al media can

also use the Intemet to greatly expand their audiencesat nominal cost' N{ore

generally, by enablihg individuals to exchange intbrmation and ideas

instantaneouslyand inexpensively acrossnational bortlers, d.re ntemet allovs

access o information and knowledge that was previously unattainable.This,

in turn, contributes to the discovery of the truth and progress of society as ir

whole.

B. Sections 14, 15,24 a:nd26(a) do violate separation of

powers, as iudicial and legislative Powers are undulydelegated to the Secretary of Justice, PNP, NBI and

crcc.

In its Decisron, this Honorable Court found no undue delegation of powers. I3ut

Congress, in enacting the Cybercrime Law, upconstitution'ally delegated powers to

respondents Secretaryof Justrce,Philippine Nationai Police and National Bureau ot

Investigatron,that Congtess tself does not posscss.

RespondentsPNP and NBI, collectrvelyreferred to as 'law enforcement authorities,'

are delegated udicial por.versunder section 14 to issueorder(s)

requiring any person

or service provider to disclose or submit subscriber's information, traffic data or

relevant data in his/its possession or control widrin seventy two (72) hours from

receipt of the order in relation to a valid complaint.' Such an order would partake of

the nature of a subpoena,whicl.r s a ludicial process.

Respondent Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center is given the power to

formulate and implement the natronal cybersecurityplan under section 24. 'lhere are

no paraneters, nor standards, to guide respondent CICC in tbrmulatrng it. Such a

delegation is unconstitutional, for it amounts to an abdicatron of the legislative

1 .

3 .



5

powerto formulatepolicy n favorot an administrauve gency, hich would only be

mandatedo enforceanv suchpolicy.

Whetefore, t is respectfullyprayed hat the Decisionbe reconsidered, nd online libel rn

sectlon4(c)'+be declared nconstitutionaln regard o the origrnalauthor:and sections14, 15,24

and 26(z)be similarly nvalidatedbr violatingseparation f powers,as undueclelegationf judicial

and egrslatrveowers.Petitioners ray for other relief iustandequitable nder he premises.

QuezonCity for Manila;12March2014.

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP(Fr.AG)

Counsel [or Petitioners

JOSEMANUEL

r. DTOKNOPABLITOV, SANIDADRICARDO A. SUNGAIII

BY:

RIC

IBP No. 956517-QC.2-6-l-tPTR No. 93308D,QC, 2-et+

MCLE E-rernptiono. I\- fr)02,19.asig 1_0J_12

Unit 408-\CL Suites72 13- AvenueCubaoQuezonCitl.- 109

Email ncartir: -"un:1".r{i,)} hqr}-rac:Cellular+ 63917 542124

Copy umished:

THE SOLICITOR GENERALCounselor allPublicRespondents134AmorsoloStreet,egaspi illageMakatiCity

ATTY. LOUIS BIRAOGOG.R.No. 203299c/o BevedyVillageTruckingColporatlorlNo. 131Banay-BanaytreetCabulao,Laguna

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DISINI & DISINI LAW OFFICEG.R.No.203335320Social cience enterCommonwealth Avenue

O \. SUA-G.\ IIoll No. J0036



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ATTY. MELENCIO STA, MARIA ET AI,.G.R. No. 203440Ateneo Human Rights CenterG/F AteneoProfessional choolsBuilding20 RockwellDrive, RochvellCenter,MakauCity

ATTYS. PAUL CORNELIUS CASTILLO AND RYAN ANDRESG.R.No. 203454

6d'Floor, TuscanBuilding114V.A. RufuroStreet,\{akatiCity

ATTY. KRISTOPHER JA-}{ES PUR]SIMAG.R- o. 203169

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118 PereaStreet,r egaspiVdlage, vfakadGtf

SOLIS MEDINA LIMPINGCO & FAJARDOG.R.No. 2035011106EastTorver,PhilippineStockExchangeCenterExchange Road,Ortigas Commercial CenterPasigCity

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ATTY. RENECIO ESPIRITUJR.G.R.No. 203518Suite602 Richmonde PlazzHotel21 San Mrguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, PasigCrry

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This Petition was served on the respondents by registered mail because of time, personnel andgeographicalconcems and constraints; disance involved as well as lack of manpower to cause service bypersonaldelivery constrahed counsel to causesen'iceby registeredmail.

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/UXwRICARITOA"5I.]0{6AUI



AFFIDA\rIT OF SERVICE

I, PA{;b1wt thtg2 of legal age, do herebyslare under oath rhat: On 46gq3served opiesof the Motion for Reconsiderationn 'National

Union of Journalists f thePhilippines, r,risV.Teodoro,RowenaCatrntzaPuaan, ArielSebellino, t al.v. The ExecutiveSecretiuy, t a1.' y regrstercdmail

on drefollowing,as shownby the rcspective €gistry eceiptdetails:

THE E)GCUTIVE SECRETARYMalacanaog alace,Manila

THE SECRETARY OFJUSTICEDepartnent f-lusticePadreFautaStreet,Ermita,N,tanila

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIORAND I,OCAL GOVERNMENTDepartment f the Interiorand tocal Govemment, . FralciscoGold CondominiurnI, EDSA comer Mapagmahaltreet.Quezorciry

THE DIRECTOR GENERALPHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICEHeadquarters, hilippineNationalPolice

CampCrame,QuezonCity

THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL BUREAUOF INVESTIGATIONHeadquarters,ational ureau f Investigation,aft.{r,'eoue,Uanila

THE CYBERCRIME INVESTIGATIONAND COORDINATING CENTERc/o 1-he Executive Director, Iaformation and C.ommunicatroosTechnologyOf6ce, NCC Building C.P. Garcia Ar-enue- )iliman.

QuezonCiq'

THE SOLICITORGENERAL134 -1mo6olo Street, kgaspi \inage

Itakati Gqv

T '

QuezonCity, Nla:ch201,1.

to me competentproofof identityas ndicatecl bove.

TIN #Issuedn/at

SUBSCRTBEDND SWORNTO before " #112J9't March2014, ffianthaving resentect

REG. RECEIPT NO.

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Documents

Motion for Partial Reconsideration (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012)