After Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa’s arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation last Wednesday, February 13, many important people including Atty. Tony La Viña, Senator Francis Pangilinan, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, reacted and expressed their opinion. Some see it as a desperate move by the Duterte administration to curb press freedom of the country.
The justice department filed a cyber libel case against Ressa, along with Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr., issued on Tuesday, February 12 by Presiding Judge Rainalda Esacio Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46. Ressa then attempted to post bail on that same day but despite having the power to do this under Rule 114 section 17 of the rules of court, it has been denied.
After the arrest, Ressa stated that, “We are not intimidated. No amount of criminal case or black propaganda and lies can silence Filipino journalists “holding the line” against harassment.”
The said cyber libel charges were recommended by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over an article published in May 2012, four months before the said law was enacted. The case was based from a complaint by Wilfredo Keng, a businessman who was the subject of the said article published in 2012 entitled “CJ Using SUVs of Controversial Businessman”. However, Keng’s complaint was not about the SUV but about the backgrounder on him as having alleged involvement to illegal drugs and human trafficking.
On the other hand, Atty. Tony La Viña, former Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), gave supportive words to Ressa the day after her arrest. He labeled the arrest as “terrible moment in our country” and also stated that this will eventually pass and one that Ressa would see as a “character building experience”. He also added that, “when it passes, we must hold the people responsible. We must make sure it never happens again.”
On February 14, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland voiced concerned about Ressa’s arrest. Freeland said on her tweet, “Deeply troubled by reports that @mariaressa has been arrested in the #Philippines,”. She also added, “A free press is a bedrock of democracy. Canada reiterates its call for due process to be respected and for journalists to be free from harassment and intimidation”.
After the arrest, Senator Francis Pangilinan also reacted describing the CEO’s arrest as “a case of harassment of another critic of the current administration”. The senator then urged the authorities to stand for truth, justice, and allow the freedom of expression.
