Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippine – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday admitted there was an oversight on his part when he approved and signed the committee report of the measure against cybercrime, which later was signed into a law by President Benigno Aquino III.
To rectify the lapse, Escudero vowed to push for amendments of some provisions of the law in order to decriminalize it.
Escudero, one of the authors of the measure, admitted his shortcomings when he voted for the passage of the measure, without noticing the contested provision, which allows criminal liability for those who would violate it.
The measure was met with a wall of opposition after Aquino signed it into law on Sept. 12.
“Kasalukuyan naming pinag-aaralan ang paghain maski na ganito kaaga ng amendatory law para alisin at i-repeal ang probisyon na yun para maging consistent sa nauna kong bill na finile kaugnay ng repeal ng libel law para civil na lang ang ang liability at walang criminal liability(We are now studying filing an amendatory law even this early to repeal that provision just to be consistent with my bill that I filed in connection with libel law to impose civil, instead of criminal liability),” Escudero said
He was referring to the bill he filed to repeal the criminal liability in the libel law.
“I’ll take out the criminal liability but the civil liability provision will be intact, meaning no jail penalty,” said the senator.
Escudero admitted there was an oversight on his part when he approved and signed the committee report of the measure.
“Ayokong magbigay ng anumang dahilan o motibo. Aaminin ko na lang siguro ang amin pagkukulang, personally hindi ako makapagsalita sa ibang senador (I don’t want to give any reason or motive. I will just admit our shortcomings, personally because I can’t speak for other senators),’ he said.
In the meantime , Escudero said, the law may still be implemented unless Congress adopts a joint resolution to postpone it.