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In today’s breaking news in the Philippines, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and the news outlet’s former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos, Jr. have been found guilty of cyber libel based on businessman Wilfredo Keng’s case filed against them in 2017. The cyber libel case was in relation to the news website’s 2012 article alleging Keng’s involvement in illegal drug trades.
The country’s anti-cyber libel law was approved in September 2012 under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 RA No. 10175 – 4 months after the controversial article was published online.
The Manila court decision sentenced Ressa and Santos to six months and one day to up to six years in jail imprisonment. Both are allowed to post bail, pending an appeal. They made it in history as the first two journalists in the Philippines, under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, convicted of cyber libel.
The judge who served the decision, Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa, ordered the payment equivalent to $8,000 for moral damages and exemplary damages to the complainant, Keng.
“It is a blow to us. But it is also not unexpected. I appeal to you the journalists in this room, the Filipinos who are listening, to protect your rights. 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,” said Ressa who appeared before the media after the verdict was announced.
Holding back her tears, Ressa added, “Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right you have as a Filipino citizen. If we can’t hold power to account, we can’t do anything.”
Santos said that he was “disappointed” of the verdict and felt “very sad” of the outcome of their case.
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