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Ranada, Cepeda, etc. vs. Office of the President [DISSENTING OPINION, LEONEN, SAJ]

PATRICIA MARIE I. RANADA, MARA ALYSSABEL D. CEPEDA, RAYMON G. DULLANA, FRANKLIN Y. CIMATU, MAURICIO E. VICTA, CAMILLE KRISTINA S. ELEMIA, RALPH MARTIN S. RIVAS, BALTAZAR ESPINOSA LAGSA AND RAPPLER, INC., PETITIONERS, DR. FLORANGEL BRAID, MELINDA QUINTOS DE JESUS, CERES DOYO, JOHN NERY, SOLITA MONSOD, MA. SALVACION "INDAY" VARONA, MARLON RAMOS, VERGEL SANTOS, LOURD ERNEST DE VEYRA, JOSELITO DELOS REYES, MURIEL "TWINK" MACARAIG, NIKOLETTE KRISTINE NONNA "NIKKO" DIZON, AND OTHER JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS LISTED IN ANNEX A, PETITIONERS-IN-INTERVENTION, BARTHOLOME T. GUINGONA, ANA THERESA P. SANTOS, MICHELLE D.L. ABAD, JOSE FRANCISCO M. LUNA, MIKAELA ANDREA R. GARCIA, MERINETTE A. RETONA, JENNINA MARIE M. MORA, RANEZA E. PINLAC, ANDREW DANIEL H. MENCILAS, GILLIAN N. VILLANUEVA, PHOEBE C. SALVADOR, SHERWIN G. DE VERA, ANGELO A.M. SILVA, ARMIN REY P. ADINA, ODINA E. BATNAG, MA. ANNA MARGARITA V. BUENO, ANGEL S. AVERIA, JR., MARIA LOURDES M. JIMENEZ, EDNA O. AQUINO, ANTONIO TIAMSON, NOEMI L. DADO, MARIA LORETO P. ROCES, AND MARLON ANTHONY TONSON, PETITIONERS-IN-INTERVENTION, PAGBABAGO@PILIPINAS FOUNDATION, INC., PETITIONER-IN-INTERVENTION, VS. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE, MEDIA ACCREDITATION REGISTRATION OFFICE, AND PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY GROUP, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. No. 246126 | 2023-06-27

DISSENTING OPINION

LEONEN, SAJ.:

While this case has been rendered moot by the end of the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the inclusion of the petitioners in the list of media entities allowed to access presidential events, I urge that we continue to rule to emphasize our doctrines on a free press and to avoid repetition in the future.

The implication of the ban and regulation of the media in covering the events of a government institution raises questions on the exercise of a free press vis-à-vis the State and the condition of our democracy.

The task of a free press in a deliberative democracy is paramount....