Rappler CEO Maria Ressa arrested
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 12:43:45 +0000
MARIA Ressa
Rappler Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor Maria Ressa was arrested Wednesday night at her office in Pasig City over a cyberlibel case concerning an article about businessman Wilfredo Keng.
She was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division who served a warrant for her arrest issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46.
NBI spokesperson Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed the arrest of Ressa.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra assured Ressa can post bail over the cyber libel case she is facing with former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr.
“In all likelihood, the warrant is in relation to the cyber libel case. This is simply procedural. Ms. Ressa may post bail anytime, even before the warrant is served,” he said.
The case was filed before the Manila RTC Branch 46 after the Department of Justice issued last week a resolution recommending the indictment of Ressa and Santos for violating Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“The publication complained of imputes to complainant Keng the commission of crimes. It is clearly defamatory,” said the DoJ resolution. “Under Article 354 of the Revised Penal Code, the DoJ pointed out “every defamatory imputation is presumed to be malicious, even if it be true, if no good intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown,” it pointed out.
The resolution was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog and Assistant State Prosecutors Florencio dela Cruz Jr. and Jeanette Dacpano with the approval of acting Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon.
The case stemmed from the complaint of Keng regarding the May 29, 2012 online article written by Santos titled “CJ Using SUVs of Controversial Businessman.”
The article wrote that then Chief Justice Renato C. Corona was using a 2011 Chevrolet Subarban which was found registered to Keng whom Santos described as “shady” and involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling, among others. At that time, Corona was facing an impeachment complaint.
Keng said Rappler turned down his request to take down the article which he found was updated and revised on Feb. 19, 2014.
The respondents said they argued they cannot be charged since RA 10175 was not yet in effect when the article was first published. (Jeffrey Damicog and Jel Santos)