MANILA - The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) opposed a bill filed before the House of Representatives seeking to decriminalize libel. "Decriminalizing libel will result in an unbridled exercise of freedom of expression that will no longer allow for any form of legal restraint," NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Legal Affairs Prosecutor 2 Flosemer Chris Gonzales said in a statement on Sunday. "Anything in excess will result in chaos." On Friday, Makabayan Block led by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, together with Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel filed House Bill (HB) 1769 seeking to decriminalize libel through amendments to the Revised Penal Code. The proponents of the bill seek to repeal Articles 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 360, and 361 of the Revised Penal Code, which, in effect, would lift criminal penalties against persons accused of libel. Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code defines libel as "a public