Tolledo, Ian Gabriel T.
November 2010
Mass Media Law & Ethics Prof. Padilla
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1018
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1018 - LIMITING THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF MASS
MEDIA TO CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, the Constitution, to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the Philippines, provides among other
things, that the ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to
corporations or associations wholly owned and managed by such citizens;
WHEREAS, it is imperative that this constitutional mandate be implemented by law, with appropriate
sanctions, to ensure that it is respected and carried out at all times;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:
Section 1. The term "mass media" refers to the print medium of communication, which includes all
newspapers, periodicals, magazines, journals, and publications and all advertising therein, and billboards, neon
signs and the like, and the broadcast medium of communication, which includes radio and television
broadcasting in all their aspects and all other cinematographic or radio promotions and advertising.
Section 2. The ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to
corporations or associations wholly owned and managed by such citizens.
Section 3. Any foreigner or alien residing in the Philippines and any foreign corporation doing business in
the Philippines who prints or publishes, or causes to be printed or published, abroad any newspaper, magazine,
periodical or other publication but circulates or causes the circulation of the same in the Philippines shall be
covered by or be subject to the provisions of this Decree.
Section 4. Any person who publishes a newspaper, magazine, periodical or other publication abroad and
desires to circulate it in the Philippines shall do so through a Filipino citizen or a firm or association wholly
owned or controlled by citizens of the Philippines, and the said distributor shall be responsible for compliance
with any requirements of Philippine law, rules or regulations and be liable for any criminal or civil action
against the publication.
Section 5. Violation of the provisions of this decree shall subject the person or corporation guilty of such
violation to cancellation of its permit. In addition, any person found guilty of violating this Decree shall be
punished by imprisonment of from six (6) months to five (5) years or a fine of Ten Thousand (P10,000) Pesos,
or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court.
If the violation is committed by a corporation, the penalty shall be imposed on the officers or employees
thereof who were responsible for or who committed the violation.
Section 6. All laws, decrees, orders, instructions and rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-six.
Tolledo, Ian Gabriel T. November 2010
Mass Media Law & Ethics Prof. Padilla
1987 Constitution
ARTICLE I
NATIONAL TERRITORY
The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein,
and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial,
fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other
submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their
breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any
person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against
unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search
warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge
after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order
of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise, as prescribed by law.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in
any proceeding.
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right
of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political
rights.
Section 6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be
impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the
interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.
Section 7. The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to
official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to
Tolledo, Ian Gabriel T. November 2010
Mass Media Law & Ethics Prof. Padilla
government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such
limitations as may be provided by law.
Section 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to form unions,
associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.
Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.
Section 11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied
to any person by reason of poverty.
Section 12. (1) Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to be
informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own
choice. If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These rights cannot
be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel.
(2) No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used
against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are
prohibited.
(3) Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this or Section 17 hereof shall be inadmissible in
evidence against him.
(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for violations of this section as well as compensation to
the rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices, and their families.
Section 13. All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of
guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as
may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.
Section 14. (1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall
enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation
against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have
compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf.
However, after arraignment, trial may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused: Provided, that he
has been duly notified and his failure to appear is unjustifiable.
Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or
rebellion, when the public safety requires it.
Section 16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative bodies.
Tolledo, Ian Gabriel T. November 2010
Mass Media Law & Ethics Prof. Padilla
Section 17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.
Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted.
Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted.
Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress
hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or
the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.
Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.
Section 21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an act is punished
by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for
the same act.
Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.
