The Philippines: CFWIJ condemns the attempt to place travel restrictions on Maria Ressa
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December 1, 2021, Manila- Solicitor General Jose Calida has filed a motion in the Supreme Court requesting that Maria Ressa be disallowed from traveling to receive her Nobel Peace Prize. Calida contends that Maria is a “flight risk” and should thus not be allowed to fly to Oslo in the coming days to attend the ceremony. The motion is under consideration and the Supreme Court would have to arrive at a decision latest by December 10, if Ressa is to make it to the award ceremony in time.
Calida’s motion was filed on November 8 and was co-signed by 12 other assistant solicitors, The Rappler reported. “Her recurring criticisms of the Philippine legal processes in the international community reveal her lack of respect for the judicial system which consequently makes her a flight risk,” the motion states.
Maria Ressa was earlier allowed to travel by the Supreme Court after she filed a request to fly to Boston where she was invited to give a series of lectures by representatives of Harvard University. Maria was scheduled to return in the first week of December however she filed for an amendment in her requested itinerary which could allow her to travel to Oslo to receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize personally.
It appears however that Calida does not believe that receiving such a prestigious honour is a satisfactory reason to travel when a world renowned journalist has bogus libel charges to contend with. “[We are] aware that the Nobel Peace Prize is a prestigious award given to individuals who have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. However, it is respectfully submitted that accused-appellant Ressa has failed to present any compelling argument and/or evidence proving the necessity and urgency of her travel to Oslo, Norway,” he stated.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism has consistently reported upon the legal harassment that Maria Ressa has had to face for her brave journalism. This attempt is nothing if not the latest in a series of bureaucratic hurdles created to make life difficult for the journalist. The Peace Prize awarded to Maria should be a matter of great pride for the progressive civil society of her country and attempts to bar her from personally receiving it are not just reprehensible but petty. The Supreme Court should disregard such motions entirely and allow Maria to receive the honour on behalf of those her fearless journalism represents.
