Bill penalizing techy intruders advances to plenary

MANILA, Philippines – Paparazzi, you would soon be in big trouble.

This was the tone and spirit of a bill that seeks to penalize photographers and cameramen who swarm like vultures on private persons for commercial purposes.

The House of Representatives public information committee approved House Bill 4807 or the “Protection Against Personal Intrusion Act,” which reached the second reading for plenary approval.

“The measure shall curb acts of trespassing and other intrusions on personal privacy committed by any person in order to capture visual or sound impressions of an individual with intent to gain or profit,” public information committee chair Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte said in a statement Thursday.

The committee endorsed for plenary approval the bill that substituted the original measure authored by Mindanao brother solons, Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr.

The authors said the privacy of individuals and their families is violated by those who trespass using “intrusive” communication equipment such as powerful telephoto lenses and hyperbolic microphones.

“Such harassment and trespassing threaten public and private persons and their families whom personal circumstances beyond their control create media interest,” the lawmakers said.

The bill said it is unlawful to trespass on the privacy of a private person for commercial purposes.

According to the bill, the measure seeks to promote and protect the privacy of every person by “preventing intrusion for commercial purposes, and enjoining everyone to respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of every person.”

The bill also allows private persons to file a civil action against those who trespassed against them.

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