Instructions: In your own words and understanding, discuss the following topics.

1. The Right to Privacy in the Philippines

As what have been mentioned in our lesson, the Philippines has no specific laws on
privacy, however the constitution provided provisions for the rights to privacy under
Article 3 of Bill of Rights, specifically in Section 2 and 3. It stated that individuals
have the right to be secured in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against
unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purposes. It also
stated a person can only issue a search warrant or warrant of arrest if there are probable
causes determined personally by a judge. Although people have the right to privacy,
there is an exception to these provisions. According to Section 7, people have the right
to the information if it concerns with the wellbeing of the mass. Meaning, they can
access your information if it concerns the public, like official records and documents.

2. The National Identification System

National Identification System is the government’s central identification platform for

all its citizens. In the Philippines, it was first initiated by former President Fidel Ramos
in 1996 but was only implemented in 2018. National identification system combined
all government-issued IDs into one ID to ease public and private transactions, such as
issuance of passports, driver’s license, opening bank accounts registration and voting
purposes, tax-related purposes, etc. This will also help the government and every
individual in minimizing costs and effort.

3. Identity Theft in the Philippines

Identity theft is widely experienced in the world. In the Philippines, there are methods
that is used by identity thieves such as ATM skimming wherein, they put skimming
machines in slots of ATM to capture someone’s card information. They also put spy
cameras to know your PIN or putting fake keyboard to track your PIN.

4. The Bloggers Freedom of Expression and Libel Law

Under Article 3 of Bill of rights, Section 4, it stated that “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”.
Therefore, no one shall be punished because of his political beliefs and aspiration.
5. Defamation Laws in the Philippines

Under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, it defines libel as a
public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or
any act, omission, condition, status or circumstance tending to discredit or cause the
dishonor or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one
who is dead. Therefore, defamation is considered if someone makes false statement
that harm’s a third party’s reputation. If defamation is done in writing, it is called
“libel”, and “slander” if it is in oral form.