By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. pushed for the approval of a bill prohibiting the media from using denotations of religious, regional, cultural and ethnic affiliation to describe persons who are suspected or convicted of crimes. Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Before the Senate adjourned sine die this week, Revilla sponsored the Senate Bill No. 448, which would prevent "negative-tagging" and discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. "Marahil ay nakarinig na kayo ng mga balitang naglalaman ng mga ganitong pagturing:  'Muslim na terorista', 'mandurukot na Mangyan', 'Tausug na pirata'.  Ang mga ganitong pagbabalita sa media ay hindi nakakatulong sa pagpapalaganap ng national healing at national unity (Maybe you have heard of news reports with these kinds of reference -- 'Muslim terrorists', 'Mangyan kidnappers', 'Tausug pirates'. This kind of reporting does not help in national healing and unity)," the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media said in his sponsorship speech last Wednesday. "Sa panukalang ito, sinisiguro nating napapangalagaan ang karapatang-pantao ng lahat, kahit pa mga suspek o convicts ang mga ito (In this proposal, we are making sure that the right of every human is protected, even if they are suspects of crimes or convicts). We wish to abolish religiously and culturally-biased practices in our society,” he told his colleagues. He hoped that the measure will "contribute and result in increased positive social space and understanding between and among Filipinos towards a culturally sensitive, fair, and lasting peace and development in the country." Under the SB 448, it will be "unlawful for any person to use the words that would denote religious, regional or ethnic afftliatlon in print, radio, television, including cable television and/or any form of broadcast media to refer to or describe any person suspected of or convicted of a crime or any unlawful act." The bill proposes a penalty of arresto mayor, or imprisonment of one month to six months; a fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000; or both, at the discretion of the court. At least nine of his colleagues in Senate signed the committee report on the bill.