February 14, 2006

EN BANC

A.M. No. 99-7-06-SC

RESOLUTION

Sirs/Mesdames :

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated February 14, 2006. EIaDHS

A.M. No. 99-7-06-SC (In Re Internet Web Page of the Supreme Court). The Court received a letter from a concerned mother addressed to the Chief Justice expressing anxiety over the posting of full text decisions of the Supreme Court on its Internet Web Page. Her daughter was a victim of child abuse in a criminal case previously decided by the Court and the decision contains a graphic description of the offensive acts committed against her. The daughter, according to the mother, after going through so much pain and helped by the nurturing of their family and a clinical psychologist, has moved forward doing graduate work in a university abroad. She claims that she is now experiencing the same torment she went through during the emotionally draining court trial after she accidentally found the decision on the Internet Web Page. Submitting that confidentiality and the best interest of the child must prevail over public access to information, she pleads that her daughter's case as well as those of similar nature be excluded from the Web Page.

Considering the foregoing, the Court resolves to REQUIRE the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), National Press Club (NPC), Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to COMMENT on whether or not it is proper to post the full text decisions of cases of the same nature as the above adverted case on the Supreme Court Internet Web Page within ten (10) days from receipt hereof. The Court further resolves in the meantime to REFRAIN from posting on its Web Page the full text of decisions in cases of similar nature.

Very truly yours,

(SGD.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA
Clerk of Court
Supreme Court of the Philippines

ATTACHMENT

Sirs/Mesdames:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated July 26, 2006.

"A.M. No. 99-7-06-SC. Re: Internet Web Page of the Supreme Court. The Court Resolved to REFER this matter to the COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF THE RULES OF COURT for study and recommendation." (adv45) CaDATc

Very truly yours,

(SGD.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA
Clerk of Court