SC dismisses journalists' BOC accreditation memo petition

The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by journalists against a Bureau of Customs (BOC) memorandum requiring media practitioners to submit accreditation requirements.

In its decision promulgated on September 13, 2024, the court emphasized that guidelines or procedures for media accreditation should not suppress freedoms of speech, expression, and press, stating any limitation on free speech must be justified with clear and indubitable grounds.

Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez noted that no matter how laudable the objective, the means used to achieve such an objective must not unnecessarily sweep on the rights of legitimate media personalities.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen dissented, arguing the Court should have ruled on the petition's merits to guide future cases and contended that the memorandum could infringe on press freedom by hindering information gathering essential for journalistic work.

The order was repealed in January 2014, rendering the issue a non-issue and making it unnecessary for the SC to rule on its constitutionality.