The Commission on Human Rights in Region 1 (CHR-1) issued an advisory urging media practitioners to strictly adhere to ethical guidelines when reporting cases involving children.
Recently signed by Atty. Harold Kub-aron, the regional director of CHR-1, this advisory was prompted by an incident in mid-September in which a local radio station’s social media post disclosed sensitive information about a minor in Pangasinan.
In the advisory, Kub-aron emphasized that all forms of public reporting must prioritize the child’s right to privacy and protection from harm, avoiding any content that could reveal the minor’s identity.
“Let us not sacrifice the rights and welfare of our children for the sake of media mileage. Let us always practice truthful, fair, and responsible journalism,” stated Kub-aron.
On Tuesday, Mark Espinosa, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Pangasinan Chapter, issued a statement expressing full support for CHR’s recent advisory.
“We must handle child-related cases with the highest level of care, ensuring that our reporting does not put children at risk or violate their rights to privacy and dignity,” he said.
He also urged all media outlets and practitioners in Pangasinan to adhere to principles of responsible reporting that protect youth and contribute to a fair, informed, and respectful society.
Meanwhile, CHR has called on the concerned media outlet to remove any content that violates guidelines on responsible reporting.
The CHR further emphasized that continuous monitoring of compliance among media practitioners will be strengthened to ensure the welfare and rights of children are protected.
Republic Act No. 9344, also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, mandates that the identity and proceedings of children in conflict with the law (CICLs) must remain confidential from initial contact through the final disposition of their cases.
According to Section 62 of this law, any person found violating its provisions or established rules should face a fine ranging from P20,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment for eight to ten years, or both at the court’s discretion—unless a higher penalty is specified by the Revised Penal Code or special laws.
If the offender is a public officer or government employee, they will face administrative liability in addition to fines and imprisonment, resulting in perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office.
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