Philippines: CFWIJ condemns the third cyber libel charge against Maria Ressa

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January 15, 2021 - Rappler founder Maria Ressa faces the third charge of cyber libel. According to her lawyer Ted Te, the third cyber libel complaint came after the story aired in October 2020 about De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Manila students paid P20,000 to pass their thesis. The complaint was filed by Benilde’s lecturer Ariel Pineda who was at the top of the scene. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns all charges against Maria and reiterates the Duterte regime once again that journalism is not a crime.  

Rappler founder Maria Ressa and reporter Rambo Talabong face charges of cyber libel. Manila District Court of Trial (RTC) Branch 24 ordered their arrest for cyber libel following the investigation story published by Rappler into the alleged corruption scheme at De La Salle College at Saint Benilde College (CSB). The report claimed that students paid P20,000 to pass their thesis.

An arrest warrant was issued against Maria and Rambo on January 11th and bails of 30,000 P were requested for each. While this arrest warrant was the first defamation case of reporter Rambo Talabong, the tenth arrest warrant and the third cyber libel case Maria faced in less than two years. Both journalists paid their redemption before the arrest warrant was issued. The preliminary hearing of the third cyber libel case will be held on February 4. 

Maria announced her arrest warrant on her Twitter account. She underlined that this cyber libel case is her third one, “10th arrest warrant, 3rd cyber libel case in less than 2 years. Pattern?” she said.

Maria Ressa was convicted of cyber libel charges earlier in June 2020 that was filed by Keng concerning a 2012 article published by Rappler and edited in 2014 for typos. The article revealed the alleged ties of the businessman to a child trafficking ring.

Keng accused Rappler’s CEO of cyber libel last February over her tweet showing screenshots of a 2002 Philippine Star article in which the businessman was linked to the killing of a former Manila councillor along with other illegal activities. Maria called the complaint to be full of “false and malicious allegations”.

She cited a 2014 Supreme Court ruling in which the court ruled that the online libel provision in the anti-cybercrime law is constitutional, but applicable only to the original authors of the libellous material, and not those who received or reacted to it. Maria said her sharing of the Philippine Star article does not amount to a publication or republication that may give rise to a distinct cyber libel complaint.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the cyber libel cases that Maria Ressa faces. Informing the public and revealing the truths are fundamental duties that journalists do. We keep “holding the line” in Maria Ressa’s words for freedom of expression. We demand the Duterte regime to drop all charges against Maria.