RA 10175

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"If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter" 

-George Washington

Freedom (n.): - The absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. *Merriam

                       -  Political or national independence *Dictionary.com

                       -  Is doing what is right and just *My Definition

Freedom of Speech (compound noun) : is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receving and imparting information or ideas regardless of the medium used. *source*

Mabilis na kumalat ang balita sa pagkakapasa ng Republic Act 10175 o mas kilala sa tawag na Cybercrime bill law. Pres. Noynoy Aquino signed the law like nuclear bombs dropped to netizens. Marami ang hindi sumang ayon. Marami ang napa isip at marami din ang nag protesta. Isa na diyan ang isang kilalang grupo "Anonymous philippines". They attack the official websites of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) at Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and sub site of DOH by sending this.... *Source*

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Ngunit ano nga ba talaga ang nilalaman ng batas na ito. Ayon sa aking pagsasaliksik eto ang ilan sa mga nilalaman ng batas na ito. Paunawa, highlights lamang ng RA 10175 ang aking nakuha.

Republic Act 10175 

Chapter IV

 Enforcement and Implementation

source

Section 12: Real time collection of traffic Data- Law enforcement authorities, with due cause shall be authorized to collect or record by technical or electronic means traffic data in real time associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system. 

Traffic data refer only to the communication's origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service, but not content nor identities..

All other data to be collected or seized or disclosed will require a court warrant.

Service providers are required to cooperate and assist law enforcement authorities in the collection or recording of the above -stated information.

The court warrant under this section shall only be issued or granted upon written application and the examination under oath or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he may produce and the showing: (1) that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes enumerated herein above has been committed, or is being committed, is about to be committed (2) that there are reasonable grounds to believe that evidence that will be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution, or to the prevention of any such crimes and (3) that there are no other means readily available for obtaining such evidence.

*Ibig sabihin, ang probisyon na ito ay nagbibigay ng karapatan sa NBI and PNP na kumuha, mangolekta, mangalap ng traffic data kahit walang pahintulot ng hukom. other than traffic data needs court warrant. Ganito ang analogy ko diyan. Papasok ako sa sala ng bahay niyo pero hindi mo ako pwedeng kasuhan ng trespassing dahil pinahihintulutan iyon ng batas. Ngunit kung ako ay lumagpas sa sala at nagpunta sa kwarto o kusina niyo, doon pa lamang kayo maaring magsampa ng kaso sa akin ng trespassing. Ngunit anu't ano man ay may access ako sa loob ng bahay niyo. Do you get whay I mean? They still violated our right to privacy in any of its angle.

"This unwarranted authority to engage in wholesale surveillance of all cellular data, mobile, Internet and computer communications violates the petitioners' constitutionally protected right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizure as well as the right to the privacy of communications." - Rowena Disini *Source*

Section 19 : Restricting or Blocking Access to Computer Data - When computer data is "prima facie" found to be in violation of the provision of this Act, The DOJ shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer data. *Source* 

Prima Facie - Latin expression meaning on its first encounter or first sight. *Source*

*Ibig sabihin, maaring i-block o i-restrict ang anumang access sa isang computer data (halimbawa, facebook page, isang blog post, isang tweet, isang blog comment at kung anu-ano pa na nagpapakita ng data.) ng Secretary of DOJ without TRIAL or DUE PROCESS.

"This provision contains undue delegation of legislative authority, infringes upon the judicial power of the judiciary, and violates the petitioners' constitutionally-protected right to due process and freedom of expression"- Rowena Disini *Source*

Nabanggit din ni Disini na "The petition said the new law also violates constitutional sanctions against double jeopardy, undue delegation of legislative authority and right against unreasonable searches and seizure. A provision in the new law that increases penalty for libel by up to 10 years, infringes upon the freedom of expression and restricts the freedom of the press. The increased penalties plus the ease by which allegedly libelous material can be removed, worked together as a 'chilling effect' upon protected speech" *source*

Patunay diyan, Ayon sa RA 10175 under sa Chapter III Section 8: ang sinumang mapatunayan na nagkasala at lumabag sa bagong batas na ito ay mapapatawan ng prision mayor o magbabayad ng multa of at least Php 200,000 hanggang Php. 500,000. Ito ay lumalabag sa 'double jeopardy' na nabanggit ni Disini na parusa sa libel under the RA 10175 ay mas mataas pa kesa sa revised penal code na nagsasabing sino man ang lumabag sa batas na ito (libel under revised penal code) ay mapapatawan ng prision correcional o multa mula Php 200 hanggang Php 6,000 lamang. *source* 

*Prision Mayor - Duration of penalties and temporary disqualification shall be from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years except when the penalty of disqualification is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case its duration shall be that of the principal penalty. *source*

*Prision Correcional - The duration of the penalties shall be from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years except when suspension is imposed as an as an accessory penalty, in which case its duration shall be that of the principal penalty.*source*

I always thought that human rights is alienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled. It is universal and egalitarian... I guess not for this one.

Agree ako sa sinasabi ni Sen. Guingona.

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Kailan pa nga ba naging demokrasya ang paghihigpit sa paggamit ng freedom of speech? 

Samakatuwid, masasabi kong ang RA 10175 ay kailangan pa ng mausisang pag aaral ang re-revise. Ang bagong batas na ito ay hindi pino-protektahan ang iba sa ating mga karapatan. Therefore, this bill is unconstitutional and has violated Artice 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice" *source*

Naalala ko tuloy yung isang linya sa Tangled..

"I will not stop! for every minute for the rest of my life, I will fight and will never stop fighting.."