The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Wednesday pushed back against suggestions that journalists could face criminal liability for reporting on suspicious transactions, saying the public’s right to know cannot be curtailed by threats invoking the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).
The NUJP took exception to Duterte defense lawyer Mark Vinluan’s assertion that the media could violate the AMLA’s information security and confidentiality provisions by reporting on suspicious transaction reports (STRs). Section 9(C) of the law bars disclosure of the fact that a covered or suspicious transaction has been reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council, as well as its contents and related information.
But the journalists’ group said STRs disclosed in official proceedings—particularly those involving public officials—become matters of public interest. In such cases, it said, the constitutional right of the public to know and the press to report on matters of public interest must be considered alongside the AMLA’s confidentiality provisions.
The NUJP also cited Section 16 of the AMLA, which prohibits the law from being used for political prosecution or harassment. It said journalists have long been familiar with attempts to use the law to silence independent media and warned against invoking the AMLA to shield transactions involving a sitting vice president from public scrutiny.
“The NUJP does not take attempts to silence and intimidate journalists, whether unintended or not, lightly,” the group said. “Public officials and their lawyers should know better than to wield the AMLA as a threat against journalists simply for doing their jobs.” It added: “The public has the right to know. The press will continue to report on matters of public interest.”
