Sotto wants law authored by late grandpa amended

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:04:00 04/27/2011

MANILA, Philippines—In the age of Twitter and Facebook, electronic news media should also enjoy the same privilege of protecting its sources.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III wants the ’40’s-era "Sotto law’’ amended to also exempt the electronic media, cable, TV and radio from revealing their sources of information to keep the law in step with the times.

Sotto said that existing laws, including Republic Act 53 authored by his late grandfather Sen. Vicente Yap Sotto, should be tweaked to conform to emerging media of mass communications.

“The law was conceived at a time when today’s technology was unthinkable,’’ Sotto said in Senate Bill 41.

Even so, RA 53’s purpose of "protecting and enhancing the freedom of the press, so as to inform the public of current events and issues that affect their lives, remains relevant and important,’’ he said.

The Sotto law, enacted in 1946, exempts the publisher, editor or reporter of any publication from revealing the source of published news or information obtained in confidence.

To expand its coverage, Sotto proposed that ``responsible personnel’’ from Internet-based media, cable, TV and radio be included in the exemption provided by the law.

He said Section 1 of RA 53 be amended to read that station manager, producer, news director or reporter of print, broadcast or electronic mass media, including but not limited to newspaper, radio, TV, cable, Internet site or other electronic media outlet should not be compelled to reveal the source of information unless a court or Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the interest of the State.