Solons on Ressa arrest: It could happen to anybody

Party-list lawmakers chorused in condemning the arrest of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa over a cyber libel case in 2012, warning that it could happen to anybody.

"We condemn the Duterte government’s arrest of Rappler chief and TIME Person of the Year Maria Ressa, the latest of the series of actions aimed at stifling press freedom in the country," Akbayan party-list said in a statement.

"It could be any of us next if, as Maria keeps on repeating, we do not hold the line. The arrest of Maria Ressa for fighting disinformation puts a target sign on all those who tell the truth," it added.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas said the "attack on press freedom" happens at the same time when there is "growing persecution" of human rights activists, especially women. 

"May we find more reasons to rise for democracy and rage against fascism on this bleak day," Brosas said.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said media practitioners are under attack.

"Media practitioners are under attack in the regime's desperation to keep an illusion of goodness, despite the seeping truth trying hard to be covered by a wall of fake news," she said.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao said the arrest sends a chilling message to the media, especially those critical of the Duterte adminstration

"The arrest is authoritarian, and must be opposed by the freedom-loving and democratic forces in the country," Casilao said.

He said that government attacks are mostly against the basic sectors -- peasants, workers, urban poor, indigenous people, the Moro, women, children and other rural-based sectors; then on the church people, lawyers, doctors, artists, media and other sectors who aspire for a democratic and free society.

"Imagine a country when all sectors are being controlled over by a single  faction of the ruling class, it is the opposite of being a maharlika, and we would be all like aliping sagigilid or aliping namamahay and ultimately the president acting like the panginoon," Casilao added. —LDF, GMA News