Ressa had no involvement in Keng story, says Rappler exec

Rappler chief Maria Ressa had no hand in the news website’s 2012 story about businessman Wilfredo Keng for which she was convicted of cyber libel, the head of the company’s investigative desk said Tuesday.

According to Tina Panganiban Perez’ report on “24 Oras,” the senior writer behind the story on Keng who obtained the intel report on the businessman and spoke to sources for the article has already died.

Rappler Investigative Desk Head Chay Hofileña explained that Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr., who was also convicted on Monday, were not put on the witness stand because it was the late reporter Aries Rufo who handled the story. 

“First of all, si Maria was really not involved in the story. Rey kasi is a researcher-writer, so if you will notice do’n sa story, may tagline si Aries. It was actually a corroboration between Rey and Aries. So there are parts in the story na wala ring firsthand information si Rey. Si Aries ‘yun,” she said.

“Unfortunately, he died, he passed away, so how can you put him on the witness stand, although he would have been the best, the ideal person for that,” she added.

Rappler maintained that there was no malice involved in the story on Keng.

Ressa and Santos have 15 days to decide on their next course of action following their conviction.

The Manila court’s decision on the case has been questioned by several legal experts and groups. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News