The Internet Exposé

The political landscape of the Philippines has been imputed with preposterous allegations of corruptions and scandals. Thus, it has been an “open-secret” conversation that the officials of the government are manipulating the government activities with tainted intentions to personally gain for each and every “official” transaction. On the other hand, the private sector is not also immune from such accusations. There have been allegations that the elite, the privileged and the powerful business tycoons are in-sync with their activities with the government executives.

In relation to the abovementioned and with the advent of technology, are we as ordinary citizens ready to expose the alleged anomalies in the government and private sectors using the internet as a medium of expression?

Before we click the “like” icon, let us first examine the laws which are vital to the subject matter before we proceed to the said undertaking.

“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression or of the press or the right of the people peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances”. This is a clear import from Article 3 Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The next probable question might be, is it absolute? Well, the answer is a reverberating NO! Hence, the said freedom is not absolute, and may be properly regulated in the interest of the public. Accordingly, the State may validly impose penal and/or administrative sanctions.

On the part of the private corporations, it also well-settled that corporations may also file a claim for moral damages against any person who imputed false, libelous, malicious and defamatory accusation. (Filipinas Broadcasting Network vs Ago Medical)

With all these roadblocks, where do we go?

We are left with no other recourse but to submit to the duly constituted authorities. The internet is a very powerful medium of expressing one’s emotion, feeling or frustration but it is also a volatile avenue to redress our grievances against the government. The exposé of the alleged anomalies in the internet, with or without supporting evidence, will be subjected to public opinion, public ridicule and public prosecution. Thus, it may create harm, damage and injury to public order and public safety.

DISCLAIMER: The author is neither a lawyer nor is giving a legal advice on the matter. This is just an academic requirement in the college of law.