Maria Ressa and her ex-colleague Ray Santos Jr. are at risk of long prison sentences
The Filipino journalist Maria Resawhich was awarded an award Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, has lost an appeal against her previous conviction for defamation of an online media outlet, her news website announced today Rappler.
Maria Ressa and her former colleague Rey Santos Jr. face the risk of long prison sentences, but “will use all legal avenues of appeal available to them,” noted the Rappler. The case may reach the Supreme Court.
Rappler regretted an “unfortunate” decision, which “weakens the ability of journalists to hold the authorities accountable.”
“What is ultimately at stake is our democracy, the strength of which depends on a media that is not threatened by the state, nor intimidated by forces seeking to silence critical voices,” the news website underlines.
Ressa has been a fierce critic of the former Philippine president for years Rodrigo Duterte and in his bloody war on drugs, which he launched in 2016.
Her work has resulted, according to press freedom advocates, in a series of criminal charges, investigations and online attacks against her and her medium.
The journalist faces eight court cases, including online defamation, for which she was released on bail but faces up to six years in prison.
Less than two weeks ago, Philippine authorities ordered the shutdown of Rappler for violating “constitutional and legal restrictions on foreign ownership of mass media,” days before former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term expired.
Ressa pledged that Rappler would continue to operate following the legal process and expressed hope that the situation would improve with newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte on June 30.
Markos hasn’t given much indication of his views on the site or freedom of expression in general.
Activists fear a worsening human rights situation and freedom of expression in the country.
Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October for their fight for “freedom of expression”.
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