Palace admits cyber law not ‘perfect,’ may suggest amendments
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang admitted that the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was not “perfect” and said it might suggest its own amendments to the law.
“Now, sinasabi natin na (we can say that) this law is not perfect. There’s no irrepealable law or there’s no law that cannot be amended,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Thursday.
“We’re saying that no law is cast in stone as well. So if there are any objectionable provisions then certainly it’s good for the solons to recognize that and amend the provisions which they feel should be amended,” he said.
But Lacierda could not say if Malacañang has the power to suspend the implementation of the law.
“I’m not aware if we will be able to do that because we are called to implement (it). We are the Executive branch, we execute. What the Legislative branch can do, I understand, and I have seen from some tweets that are going around is that they can issue a joint resolution. But I don’t know if they intend to do that,” he said.
“But I can ask Secretary Leila de Lima. But, as far as we are concerned, we merely implement the law. So I can ask Secretary De Lima,” he added.
In the meantime, Lacierda said there are two options available to rectify whatever errors in the law — to question it before the courts and through amending the objectionable provisions.
Among the provisions being questioned in the law was the online libel provision and its penalty of up to 12 years imprisonment, compared to the up to six years jail term as provided for under the existing libel law.
And between the two, Malacañang preferred that lawmakers should take a look at their own “creation.”
“We prefer that the solons take a look at their own creation. If they see anything that they have found to be imperfect needs to be amended based on the concerns raised by the public, then we leave it with them to make the necessary corrections,” Lacierda said.
