Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 1289)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 1289 is to amend Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code regarding persons responsible for defamation in writing or similar means.
The person who publishes, exhibits, or causes the publication or exhibition of defamation in writing or by similar means is held responsible.
Yes, the author or editor of a book or pamphlet, or the editor or business manager of a daily newspaper, magazine, or serial publication, is responsible for the defamations contained therein to the same extent as if he were the author.
They shall be filed simultaneously or separately with the court of first instance of the province or city where any of the accused or any of the offended parties resides at the time of the commission of the offense.
The civil and criminal actions may be brought in the court of first instance of the province or city where the libel was published, circulated, displayed, or exhibited.
No, the civil action must be filed in the same court where the criminal action is filed and vice versa.
The court where the criminal or civil action for damages is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction to the exclusion of other courts.
No, this amendment does not apply to cases of written defamations where the civil and/or criminal actions have been filed in court at the time of the law's effectivity.
No, such criminal action shall only be brought at the instance of and upon complaint expressly filed by the offended party.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 15, 1955.