Philippine journalist convicted of libel, given 6-year term

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JIM GOMEZ and AARON FAVILA

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — An award-winning journalist critical of the Philippine president was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail Monday in a decision called a major blow to press freedom in an Asian bastion of democracy.

The Manila court found Maria Ressa, her online news site Rappler Inc. and former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty of libeling a wealthy businessman. The Rappler’s story on May 29, 2012, cited an unspecified intelligence report linking him to a murder, drug dealing, human trafficking and smuggling. The site’s lawyers disputed any malice and said the time limit for filing the libel complaint had passed.

“The decision for me is devastating because it essentially says that Rappler, that we are wrong,” Ressa said in a news conference after the ruling. Her voice cracking, she vowed that “we will keep fighting” and appealed to journalists and Filipinos to continue fighting for their rights “and hold power to account.”

Ressa was sentenced to up to six years but was not immediately taken into custody. She posted bail for the case last year, and her lawyer, Theodore Te, said they will appeal the verdict.



Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa, wearing a protective mask, exits a disinfection area before attending a court hearing at Manila Regional Trial Court, Philippines on Monday June 15, 2020. Ressa's verdict is expected to be announced Monday for a cyber libel case. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)


Read more: https://apnews.com/cb026b7094fac489d60cf248eb86bbb2

[FM123]

1. Oh no. This is such a dangerous precedent.

[ancianita]

2. Duterte has an army of supportive FB groups and Twitter bots to help him discredit journalists,

and activists, bullying them with libel suits to silence them. In other words, to censor what he doesn't like. His followers conduct online deception campaigns to sow false stories and rumors to justify his murderous authoritarian actions, too.

Last I read, his "drug war" killed 12,000+ people -- not just dealers, but addicts, children and anyone the police didn't like.

This is the kind of dictatorship control -- online and real world -- Trump will move toward if he wins in November.

[LiberalLovinLug]

5. Yup, like Trump, he has a segment of hard core supporters

Probably even higher percent than in the US for Trump.
My sister in law, living here now, is Filipino, and likes him and his tough-on-drugs, pro law and order, pro nationalistic policies.

[ancianita]

6. The thing is, such supporters of dictators and murder, under ANY pretext, eventually become targets

themselves, even if they've chosen the comforts of low wage work.

I hope your brother and sister-in-law can get a second perspective from the U.S. Their internet is under tight surveillance.

[LiberalLovinLug]

7. She is living here in Canada now with my brother who married her.

She has all the information we do. No , she's just one of those that, like Trump cultists, don't think too deeply politically, and is very anti recreational drug use. And Duterte also appeals to Filipino's rising nationalism, and shares the history of colonization, first under Spain, and then under the USA.

[ancianita]

8. Welp, they're safely able to back a nationalism that was a heart & mind warp of Duterte's bot army.

The Philippines have definitely suffered under colonization, especially the U.S.'s. But what they live under now is nationalism in name only. If the U.S. is behind Duterte's weaponizing of social media, I'll be so pissed. I'm going to check into it.

[yaesu]

3. tRump wishes he could do here what his hero did. nt

[Roy Rolling]

4. Government versus Free Press

Who has the most power? In the U.S., it’s always been the First Amendment believers.

Trump wants to change it to second amendment rule by guns in the hands of idiots.

But guns in the hands of idiots can only exist on a country with a strong FIRST AMENDMENT.

When the First Amendment is thrown out only those with guns will have power. Just like any banana republic.