Local, foreign journalists denounce Ressa arrest

Foreign and local journalists on Thursday denounced the arrest due to a cyber libel case of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) deeming it as the "latest legal stratagem" that threatens freedom of the press.

"We in FOCAP will always stand against any move, explicit or otherwise, that is designed to undermine the freedoms that are a lifeline to truly free, relevant and courageous journalism," FOCAP said in a statement.

FOCAP vowed to continue speaking the truth together with all independent media across the country, saying that it will hold accountable even those in position whenever necessary.

"We will continue to hold those in power led by President Rodrigo Duterte or any other leader and their administrations accountable every time we need to," FOCAP said.

Ressa, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration, was nabbed by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents late Wednesday afternoon over an article published by the news website in 2012.

The arrest warrant against the veteran journalist was issued by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 on Tuesday.

Rappler said efforts had been made so that Ressa can post bail before a Pasay night court, but the judge refused to accept the bail despite having the power to do so under Rule 114, Section 17 of the rules of the court.

Meanwhile, CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour also reacted to the arrest of Ressa, noting that a government is really "desperate" when it orders the arrest of a journalist.

"President Duterte: Free Maria Ressa now," Amanpour said in a tweet.

You know a government is desperate when they arrest a journalist.

President Duterte: FREE @mariaressa NOW.@UNESCO@pressfreedom#MariaRessa#PressFreedom https://t.co/Ot4g3v6s34

— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) February 13, 2019

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the arrest of Ressa, saying that the Philippine government has now reached a "critical and alarming juncture."

Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative, is urging the government to release Ressa and drop the charges against her.

"We call on Filipino authorities to immediately release Ressa, drop this spurious cyber libel charge, and cease and desist this campaign of intimidation aimed at silencing Rappler," Crispin said.

The UN Foundation and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) also expressed solidarity with the embattled journalist as they stressed the importance of free press.

A free press matters.

Independent journalism matters.

We stand with journalist, @Time Person of the Year, & @plus_socialgood Advisor @mariaressa, who has been arrested. Learn about her work in the Philippines: https://t.co/Me5A1rbNI7
#DefendPressFreedom #MariaRessa

— UN Foundation (@unfoundation) February 13, 2019

We stand with @rapplerdotcom and condemn the prosecution of CEO Maria Ressa by the Filipino authorities. #PressFreedom #MariaRessa https://t.co/nAt7UyAdIs

— ICIJ (@ICIJorg) February 13, 2019

       The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) had earlier decried Ressa's arrest, calling it a "shameless act of persecution by a bully government," and questioned the charge against her which, it said, was not yet in the law when the alleged offense was committed.       

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has insisted that Ressa's arrest was not a form of harassment on freedom of expression. —KBK, GMA News