Maria Ressa arrested upon arrival at NAIA, posts bail

Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa was arrested Friday morning upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from an overseas trip, according to Mark Makalalad's report on Dobol B sa News TV.

A warrant of arrest was issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 265 against Ressa on Thursday in connection with the case she and members of Rappler's 2016 board are facing for alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law.

JUST IN: Maria Ressa, Rappler chief executive officer, inaresto ng Pasig police pagkalapag nito sa Ninoy Aquino Int'l Airport kaninang 6:30 a.m. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/5xNPe4jmny

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 28, 2019

From NAIA, Ressa was brought to the Pasig Police Station a little past 8 a.m. where she underwent booking procedure.

Bail

The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 265 ordered Ressa released after she posted bail of P90,000.

In her tweet prior to her landing, Ressa, who arrived at NAIA around 6:30 a.m., said she will post bail for the "7th time."

"Landing in a short while to face my latest arrest warrant and the 7th time I will post bail," she said.

"#HoldTheLine we pledge to not just hold power to account but I will mark every violation of my rights under the PH Constition (like harassment cases to try to intimidate)."

Board members Manuel Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda Gloria, James Bitanga, Felicia Atienza, and James Velasquez have already each posted bail of P90,000.

They are all scheduled to be arraigned on April 10.

A veteran journalist, Ressa has also been accused of committing cyber libel and of evading taxes in separate court cases that she has repeatedly called acts of harassment.

Arrest 'not surprising'

Ressa's counsel, Francis Lim, described the arrest as "harassment" that hardly surprised them.

"This latest episode is not surprising and we prepared ourselves for it," Lim said in a statement. "But let it be crystal clear that these acts of harassment will not deter our clients from doing their duty as journalists."

"We believe in the rule of law and it is our fervent hope that we will prevail in the end," he added.

The anti-dummy case is related to a Securities and Exchange Commission order revoking Rappler's incorporation papers on allegations it violated a constitutional restriction on foreign ownership of mass media by issuing PDRs to Omidyar.

Rappler claims it is entirely owned by Filipinos. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News