Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, who is critical of the government, was found guilty of defamation. The court in Manila today allowed the 56-year-old to remain at large on bail for the time being. Her sentence has not yet been announced. Ressa faces up to six years in prison.
After the verdict, the journalist announced that she would continue to fight „against all types of attacks on freedom of the press“. Ressa is a prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte. The news portal Rappler, which she co-founded, has repeatedly reported critically, above all, about Duterte’s tough action against drug crime.
„Do not be afraid“
Ressa said the verdict is a blow to freedom of the press and democracy, but is not unexpected. Apparently an example should be made of the accused. „We should scare you … don’t be afraid,“ she said. „Because if you don’t use your rights, you will lose them.“
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch warned that the case could have an impact beyond the Philippines. „The Rappler case will not only reverberate in the Philippines, but in many other countries that have previously viewed the country as a solid haven of press freedom,“ said the organization’s deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson.
Controversial law as a basis
Ressa’s case is about an article published in 2012 on Rappler about alleged connections between an entrepreneur and a former judge at the Supreme Court. The man’s complaint about the article was initially dismissed in 2017, but later the prosecutor filed charges.
Investigators relied on a controversial cyber crime law. Ressa’s defense lawyers consider this to be inadmissible since the law only came into force months after the article was published. The law allows charges to be brought up to twelve years after the alleged defamation.
Known worldwide through critical reports
With its critical reporting on the Duterte government, Ressa has achieved international fame. In 2018, she was named one of the personalities of the year by the US magazine „Time“.
