DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Commission on Human Rights in Region 1 (CHR-1) has issued an advisory urging media practitioners to strictly follow ethical guidelines when reporting cases involving children.
The advisory, signed on October 30 by Atty. Harold Kub-aron, regional director of CHR-1, was issued following an incident in Pangasinan in which a local radio station’s social media post disclosed sensitive information about a minor in mid-September.
Kub-aron said in the advisory 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 identity of the minor.
“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 in the advisory.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Mark Espinosa, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Pangasinan Chapter, said that the organization expressed its full support for the recent advisory from CHR calling for responsible and sensitive media reporting on cases involving children.
He said the role of media practitioners carries a responsibility to protect and respect the rights of minors in every news report and broadcast.
“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.
Likewise, Espinosa urged all media outlets and practitioners in Pangasinan to adhere to the principles of responsible reporting that protect the youth and contribute to a fair, informed, and respectful society.
Meanwhile, the CHR enjoined the concerned media outlet to remove content that violates the guidelines on responsible reporting.
The CHR also highlighted that continuous monitoring of compliance of media practitioners will be strengthened to ensure that the welfare and rights of children are protected.
Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, mandates that the identity and proceedings of children in conflict with the laws (CICLs) must remain confidential from initial contact through the final disposition of the case.
According to Section 62 of the said law, any person found violating its provisions or the rules and regulations established under it should, upon conviction, face a fine ranging from ₱20,000 to ₱50,000, or imprisonment of eight to 10 years, or both, at the court’s discretion, unless the Revised Penal Code or special laws specify a higher penalty.
If the offender is a public officer or government employee, in addition to the fine and imprisonment, he or she will be held administratively liable and face perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office. (AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)
