Maria Ressa calls arrest a ‘travesty of justice’

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa has described her arrest on Wednesday as a "travesty of justice."

The veteran journalist was arrested late in the afternoon at the Rappler offices in Pasig City over an article published by the news website in 2012.

"We will file an MR (motion for reconsideration) because the case is ridiculous and the fact that they issued an arrest warrant is a travesty of justice," Ressa said.

"This is something that journalists of the Philippines now have to go through," she added.

The NBI served an arrest warrant issued by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46.

As she was being escorted through the halls of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) building, Ressa remarked that the timing of the arrest was questionable.

"The timing is suspicious," Ressa told reporters.

"If I have to spend the night, then okay. Doesn't stop us. Hold the line," she added.

Ressa said the timing of the arrest made it difficult for her camp to acquire documents about her case.

Rappler staff had also pointed out that that agents arrived at their office at 5 p.m., which is closing time for offices.

"NBI agents slip into our building at 5 pm (you know what that cutoff time means) to serve arrest warrant vs @rapplerdotcom CEO @mariaressa," Rappler's Miriam Grace Go said in a tweet.

Nevertheless, Ressa said she was ready to spend the night in jail, whether or not the events were meant to "intimidate" her.

"Will I spend the night in jail? Fine," Ressa told reporters.

"I think people should know that the line is crossed. We're journalists! We do our jobs," she said. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News