Ressa's inclusion in TIME's influential women list a mistake –Palace

TIME Magazine may have erred in including journalist and administration critic Maria Ressa in its list of the most influential women of the century, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Friday.

Ressa, CEO of online news site Rappler, joined former President Corazon Aquino in the list which was released by the New York-based publication this week. 

“You can’t be correct all the time. Mistakes happen. Maybe this is one of them,” Panelo told reporters.

“But if that is the perception of those who measure her, eh di wala tayong magagawa.”

President Rodrigo Duterte had been vocal about his displeasure with Rappler’s critical reports on his policies, especially the war on drugs.

In February 2018, the President banned Rappler from covering all his activities, which the media outfit challenged before the Supreme Court.

Rappler and its officers led by Ressa faced a number of lawsuits including cyber libel, violation of the country’s anti-dummy law, and tax evasion.

“She’s a good journalist as far as I am concerned except that she cannot go over and beyond her biases,” Panelo said. — DVM, GMA News