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Got from yahoo news: The House Committee on Revision of Laws on Friday said it has reported out for floor deliberation a substitute bill which seeks to amend the country's law on libel.

In a press statement posted on the House of Representatives website, Isabella Rep. and Committee Chairman Giorgidi Aggabao said the bill aims remove the presumption of malice from defamatory remarks which is one of the grounds for libel.

Also, the bill seeks to fix the venue for filing libel cases and increase the fine for libel to P100,000-P300,000.00.

"This means that the defendant must be shown to have acted with the knowledge that statements made were false or there was clear disregard for the truth," Aggabao said, adding that removing the presumption of malice will make truth a complete defense for libel and thus enrich the freedom of speech and of the press.

The measure also limits the venue where the libel would be filed to the principal place of business of the journalist, editor, business manager or publisher. Under the present law, libel may be filed where the article was published or at the place where the complainant resides.

The measure consolidates House Bills No. 2133, 2791, 2802, 3535, and 4914. - Mikhaela De Leon, GMANews.TV