Maria Ressa

PH gov’t ‘must drop all cases against Ressa’ – international lawyers

Pauline Macaraeg

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DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santor Jr are found guilty of cyber libel in June 2020.

Rappler file photo

(1st UPDATE) 'The world must hold the Philippines to account if it fails to do so,’ says lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, international legal counsel of Maria Ressa

The international lawyers of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa renewed their call to the Philippine government to drop all cases against her.

Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, who both lead the international legal team of Ressa,  made the call as they congratulated Ressa for her being a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2021, along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov.

“Independent, investigative journalism in the Philippines is an act of bravery. At least 19 journalists have been killed since President Duterte assumed office in 2016. Our courageous client Maria Ressa has been convicted on baseless charges, faces decades behind bars, and receives daily threats of violence and rape simply for doing her job – for being a journalist,” Gallagher said in a statement.

“Today, the Nobel Committee has honored her courage. Now, the Philippines must drop all cases against Ms. Ressa. And the world must hold the Philippines to account if it fails to do so,” she added.

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Clooney, for her part said: “I am so proud of my client and my friend Maria Ressa. She has sacrificed her own freedom for the rights of journalists all over the world and I am grateful to the Nobel Committee for shining a light on her incredible courage.”

“I hope the Philippine authorities will now stop persecuting her and other journalists and that this prize helps to protect the press around the world,” she added.

In the Philippines, lawyer Francis Lim, who represents both Ressa and Rappler, said that the string of cases she and the media organization face continue to threaten its corporate side.

“Some of these cases threatened and continue to threaten the corporate existence of Rappler as a truly independent media institution that has gained respect and admiration all over the world,” Lim said.

The lawyer commended Maria as a “highly principled and courageous journalist.”

“Not only is Maria extremely intelligent but more importantly, a highly principled and courageous journalist with truth as her only aim. She has been holding her ground against all odds and that makes her truly deserving of the Nobel Prize,” he said.

“It’s a distinct honor for me and my team of lawyers to continue defending her and we can now claim that we have defended a Nobel Prize Peace laureate,” he added.

There are at least seven pending cases against Ressa, Rappler, its directors, and a former researcher, as of August 10, 2021. On top of this, the Bureau of Internal Revenue is also investigating Rappler Incorporated and Rappler Holdings Corporation for alleged tax violations.

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Ressa is the first Filipino individual to win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly targeted her, peddled false information against her and Rappler, and called Rappler a “fake news outlet.” (READ: What you need to know: Filipinos and the Nobel Peace Prize)

World leaders and various groups and institutions have hailed Ressa and Muratov for their Nobel Prize.

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The Kremlin has congratulated Muratov, whose newspaper has probed corruption allegations in Vladimir Putin’s government, but the Duterte government has remained silent about Ressa’s historic feat, as of posting. – Rappler.com

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Pauline Macaraeg

Pauline Macaraeg is digital forensics researcher for Rappler. She started as a fact checker and researcher in 2019, before becoming part of Rappler's Digital Forensics Team. She writes about the developing digital landscape, as well as the spread and impact of disinformation and harmful online content. When she's not working, you can find her listening to podcasts or K-pop bops.