NEWS
Ressa conviction a “devastating blow” to Philippines’ freedom
15 June 2020
The Philippines grabbed global attention yet again this week following the cyber-libel conviction of journalist Maria Ressa over an eight-year-old article.
The court ruling on Monday has been described as everything from “an ugly stain on the Philippines’ reputation” (U.K. barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher who leads the international team representing Ressa alongside Amal Clooney) and “a devastating blow” to media freedom (Human Rights Watch) to “basically kills freedom of speech and of the press” (Philippines’ National Union of Journalists).
Ressa, the founder of news site Rappler in 2012 and a long-time critic of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted along with former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr, and could serve between six months and six years in prison. Both have posted bail pending an appeal. The pair were also ordered to pay damages amounting to about US$8,000.
The 2012 story, which alleged illegal activities by a local businessman, predated the 2012 cyber-crime law but was “updated” in 2014 to fix a typo. The criminal libel case was filed in 2017, dismissed in 2018, and resurrected under the Duterte regime.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines said the conviction was “a menacing blow to press freedom in the Philippines and adds a new weapon in a growing legal arsenal against constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties in an Asian outpost of democracy”.
Ressa, who has vowed to fight the conviction, said after the ruling that “to cut down press freedom in this way and to weaponise the law is a whole new level... It is something I haven’t seen since the days of Marcos. And to see it again is heartbreaking.”
In a press conference following the court decision, she urged journalists and others to protect their rights, and said that the ruling, while a blow, was not unexpected.
“We are meant to be a cautionary tale. We are meant to make you afraid. But don’t ...
The Philippines grabbed global attention yet again this week following the cyber-libel conviction of journalist Maria Ressa over an eight-year-old article.
The court ruling on Monday has been described as everything from “an ugly stain on the Philippines’ reputation” (U.K. barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher who leads the international team representing Ressa alongside Amal Clooney) and “a devastating blow” to media freedom (Human Rights Watch) to “basically kills freedom of speech and of the press” (Philippines’ National Union of Journalists).
Ressa, the founder of news site Rappler in 2012 and a long-time critic of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted along with former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr, and could serve between six months and six years in prison. Both have posted bail pending an appeal. The pair were also ordered to pay damages amounting to about US$8,000.
The 2012 story, which alleged illegal activities by a local businessman, predated the 2012 cyber-crime law but was “updated” in 2014 to fix a typo. The criminal libel case was filed in 2017, dismissed in 2018, and resurrected under the Duterte regime.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines said the conviction was “a menacing blow to press freedom in the Philippines and adds a new weapon in a growing legal arsenal against constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties in an Asian outpost of democracy”.
Ressa, who has vowed to fight the conviction, said after the ruling that “to cut down press freedom in this way and to weaponise the law is a whole new level... It is something I haven’t seen since the days of Marcos. And to see it again is heartbreaking.”
In a press conference following the court decision, she urged journalists and others to protect their rights, and said that the ruling, while a blow, was not unexpected.
“We are meant to be a cautionary tale. We are meant to make you afraid. But don’t be afraid. Because if you don’t use your rights, you will lose them,” she said.
Rappler and Duterte have clashed often, mostly about his war on drugs. Efforts to silence her include a failed attempt at shutting the news outlet over alleged tax evasion and foreign ownership. Duterte has dismissed Rappler as fake news.
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