'CHILLING DEVELOPMENT'

Maria Ressa's cyber libel conviction is a threat to freedom of all —Robredo

The conviction of Rappler journalist Maria Ressa over cyber libel raps in connection with a story published before the Anti-Cybercrime law took effect is an attack on the freedom of all Filipinos, Vice President Leni Robredo said Monday. 

Robredo was responding to Ressa’s conviction over a 2012 story linking businessman Wilfredo Keng to human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Keng filed the complaint in January 2019, which led to Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr being sentenced to spend six months and one day to up to six years in jail.

“This is a chilling development. A threat to the freedom of even a single Filipino is a threat to all of our freedoms,” Robredo said. 

“If the law and our government institutions can be brought to bear upon Ms. Ressa, then we should be wary of what this means to the freedoms of ordinary citizens,” Robredo added. 

Robredo then said Ressa’s conviction sends a dangerous message: expressing dissent means spending time in jail.

“This is merely the latest instance of law being utilized to muzzle our free press. Silencing, harassing, and weaponizing law against the media sends a clear message to every dissenting voice: Keep quiet or you are next,” Robredo, a lawyer, argued.

“As we continue to face the challenges brought by COVID-19, we need the free press not only to ensure that our collective response is based on accurate information, but also to uphold truth-telling and the courage to speak of it as vital cornerstones of our democracy,” Robredo added.

In closing, Robredo said the conviction of Ressa, who vowed to appeal the ruling, should inspire courage.

“It is incumbent upon the press, and every free Filipino, to hold fast to our courage and not be cowed into silence,” Robredo said.

“If anything, this must only firm up our resolve as we work towards a humane, truthful, and law-abiding society,” she added. —KG, GMA News