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Cyber Law

In the Philippines, cyber libel is governed by Republic Act No. 10175, imposing severe penalties including imprisonment of 6 to 12 years and fines ranging from Php 200,000 to Php 1,000,000. Convicted individuals may also face additional penalties such as asset forfeiture and civil liabilities, including damages. The law allows for 'venue shopping,' enabling the aggrieved party to file cases in various jurisdictions where the libelous material was accessed.

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11 views2 pages

Cyber Law

In the Philippines, cyber libel is governed by Republic Act No. 10175, imposing severe penalties including imprisonment of 6 to 12 years and fines ranging from Php 200,000 to Php 1,000,000. Convicted individuals may also face additional penalties such as asset forfeiture and civil liabilities, including damages. The law allows for 'venue shopping,' enabling the aggrieved party to file cases in various jurisdictions where the libelous material was accessed.

Uploaded by

MARJORIE PILON
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cyber Libel Penalties Philippines

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

In the Philippines, cyber libel is governed primarily by Republic Act No.


10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The law
penalizes libel committed through a computer system or any other similar
means which may be devised in the future, expanding the scope of
traditional libel as defined under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code.

PENALTIES UNDER THE LAW

The law stipulates that anyone found guilty of committing cyber libel can
face imprisonment of prision mayor, or a period ranging from 6 years and 1
day to 12 years. This differs from the penalties for traditional libel cases,
which usually fall under prision correccional or a period ranging from 6
months and 1 day to 6 years.

FINES

Apart from imprisonment, individuals convicted of cyber libel can also face
fines ranging from Php 200,000 to Php 1,000,000 or even higher depending
on the gravity of the offense. Courts have the discretion to impose a fine
alone or in conjunction with imprisonment.

ADDITIONAL PENALTIES

Conviction for cyber libel may result in other forms of penalties such as the
forfeiture of assets used in the commission of the crime and the payment of
damages to the aggrieved party. These are discretionary and will vary
depending on the specific circumstances of the case.

CIVIL LIABILITY

In addition to criminal penalties, the convicted individual might also be


subject to civil liabilities, including moral and exemplary damages. This could
significantly increase the financial burden on the accused.

JURISDICTION

An interesting facet of cyber libel in the Philippines is jurisdiction. The law


allows for "venue shopping," meaning that the aggrieved party can choose to
file the case wherever the libelous material was accessed.

LEGAL DEFENSES
Common defenses against cyber libel include truth as an absolute defense,
lack of malice, and absence of intent to harm. However, these are not
guaranteed to absolve the accused but can significantly impact the court's
final decision.

CONCLUSION

Cyber libel in the Philippines is a serious offense that comes with severe
penalties including long-term imprisonment and hefty fines. It is essential for
internet users to be aware of these implications and act responsibly while
participating in online spaces.

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