Maria Ressa, former staff convicted of cyber libel

A MANILA trial court on Monday, June 15, convicted Rappler executive editor Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of cyber libel and sentenced each to imprisonment of six months and one day to six years.

They were also ordered to pay a total of P400,000 in damages to businessman Wilfredo Keng. The court, however, granted bail.

The verdict was handed down by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 at about 9 a.m. Monday.

“This is a dark day not only for independent Philippine media but for all Filipinos. The verdict basically kills freedom of speech and of the press,” the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said in a Twitter post shortly after the verdict was read.

“But we will not be cowed. We will continue to stand our ground against all attempts to suppress our freedoms,” NUJP added.

Rights advocate Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the ruling as a devastating blow to media freedom in the Philippines.

“The Rappler case will reverberate not just in the Philippines, but in many countries that long considered the country a robust environment for media freedom,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at HRW, said in a statement.

Keng, however, said the case is “not a fight against press freedom” nor does it involve the government. He stressed that he, as complainant, is a private citizen and this is a private suit.

“For years, I have personally suffered from Rappler’s false accusations against me, which false accusations have no place in a responsible and free press. Indeed, it is an accepted legal principle that libel is not protected speech,” he said.

“My filing and winning this case assures Filipinos that published falsehoods will not remain unchallenged and unchecked in this jurisdiction but will instead be dealt with by law, strengthening the people’s respect for the Philippine media in the years to come,” he added.

He said his counsel had “pleaded and begged with Rappler to correct their false public accusations that I am a criminal” or at least publish his side.

“They refused. They have denied me my right to clear my name. Where else can I go to seek justice and protection but our courts? And so I did,” Keng added.

Another libel complaint that Keng has filed against Ressa is pending before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Makati.

Six other cases have been filed against Ressa, who heads online news site Rappler which is known for its critical coverage of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ressa’s conviction was for a case that stemmed from an article which Rappler published in May 2012 prior to the enactment of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The article, however, was updated with a correction of a typographical error in 2014.

Keng filed the case in October 2017. Ressa was arrested on February 13, 2019.