Maria Ressa takes witness stand vs. tax evasion charges

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa on Thursday appeared before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) to challenge the tax evasion charges filed against her by the government.

Ressa testified for two-and-a-half hours, a representative from Rappler said.

The veteran journalist and Rappler Holdings face four tax evasion charges at the CTA. A fifth tax-related lawsuit is pending before a Pasig City court, where she pleaded not guilty last July.

“It’s surreal, unbelievable but we take it right? It’s the price of doing journalism unfortunately,” Ressa told reporters before entering the CTA premises. “We will win these cases.”

A Manila court found Ressa guilty of cyber libel last June and faces a similar case initiated by the same businessman, Wilfredo Keng, in Makati City. She is out on bail. — BM, GMA News