Youth Commission expresses support for Ressa conviction

The National Youth Commission (NYC) on Tuesday evening expressed its support for the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa for cyber libel.

"Ang Press Freedom ay may kaakibat na responsibilidad, 'yun ang paghahayag ng tamang balita. Guilty as charged," the NYC said in a now-deleted Facebook post.

On Monday, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 found Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty of cyber libel and sentenced them to six months and one day to up to six years in jail over a 2012 Rappler story.

However, a Rappler executive said that Ressa had no hand in the article about businessman Wilfredo Keng.

Days before her conviction, Ressa stressed that the libel charge was a ploy to intimidate critics of the current administration.

"I've been the cautionary tale: be quiet or you're next... that's part of the reason why I have been targeted... It's a chilling effect... not just to me and to Rappler, but to journalists and to anyone who asks critical questions." Ressa said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte supported press freedom and freedom of expression.

“Ang paninindigan ng ating Pangulo ay ito po ay isang kaso na nalitis ng ating hukuman. Respetuhin natin ang desisyon ng hukuman,” Roque said.

Malacañang also dismissed Ressa's claims that her conviction was a "cautionary tale" as several quarters warned of the ruling’s supposed chilling effect on press freedom in the country.  — DVM, GMA News