Rappler's latest stories on cyber libel in the Philippines
European Parliament urges Duterte to 'drop all charges' vs Maria Ressa, Santos
The members of the European Parliament's Media Working Group say that the cyber libel conviction 'is part of an orchestrated campaign of legal harassment against Maria Ressa and Rappler'
Ressa, Santos seek reversal of cyber libel conviction, cite 13 errors
(UPDATED) 'The court’s role in the trial is to determine malice, not make malicious statements. Ascribing an underhanded and even unlawful motive – without assertion or proof – is malicious,' says the motion for partial reconsideration
[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: The problems with the Cybercrime Law
Did you know that during the 2013 Supreme Court oral arguments on the Cybercrime Prevention Act, then Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza categorically said that cyber libel has a prescription period of only one year?
'Rob fear of its power' – Maria Ressa
Hannah Neumann, member of the European Parliament and vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, talks to Rappler's Maria Ressa
Reporting after the cyber libel verdict
Journalists are not the ones running scared
Filipino-American journalists send letter of support for Ressa, Santos, and Rappler
A letter from Filipino-American journalists says the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr 'poses threats to freedom of the press and democracy'
Judges' group cries foul over bashing of judiciary after Ressa conviction
'The attacks on the judiciary are so vicious that they may lead to the public losing faith and respect in our judicial system,' says the Philippine Judges Association
[EDITORIAL] Ang pulitika ng bengansya laban kay Maria Ressa at Rey Santos Jr
Ito ang dalawang haligi ng duling na hustisya na itinaguyod ng kampong Keng at ng DOJ: Ang 'republication' at ang 12-taong prescription period para sa libel
[PODCAST] Delikado ang epekto sa demokrasya ng Maria Ressa verdict
Hindi lamang mga mamamahayag ang maaapektuhan ng hatol kay Rappler CEO Maria Ressa at dating researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr
Keng sues Ressa for cyber libel anew over a 2019 tweet
(UPDATED) The complaint is filed February 13, 2020, or 4 months before a Manila court convicted Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr over the same issue
LIST: Groups worldwide decry ‘new weapon’ vs press freedom after cyber libel verdict
Groups and personalities from all over the world denounce the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr
After Ressa conviction, lawmaker seeks 1-year prescription period for cyber libel
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says explicitly putting this in the Cybercrime Law would ''put to rest the issue of prescription of the crime of cyber libel'
'I'm scared to go to jail, I'm not as fearless as Maria'
The trial was tough for former journalist Reynaldo Santos Jr who is averse to public attention
Aquino: Why not use cybercrime law to go after trolls, purveyors of fake news?
'Parang pilit na pilit,' former President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III says of the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher-writer, Rey Santos, Jr
U.S. State Dept, ambassador 'concerned' by Ressa verdict, call for free speech
America calls for a resolution of the case 'in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines’ long shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press'
EU hits Ressa verdict, urges PH to protect free press
'We expect the Philippines, like all countries, to uphold its international human rights obligations and protect and promote fundamental freedoms,' says the European Union External Action Service
After verdict on Maria Ressa, world puts Duterte on trial
(UPDATED) In this global court, at stake is more than a fine and jail time, but the Philippines’ name on the world stage
[OPINION | Newspoint] From here to cyber’nity
The cybercrime law goes against the universal trend toward making libel no longer punishable by imprisonment, a long-overdue reinforcement of press freedom in its lopsided relationship to power
Law experts: 12-year prescription period for cyber libel unconstitutional
'The overriding issue in the Rappler case is prescription,' says retired supreme court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, who agrees that cyber libel must prescribe in 1 year, not 12 years
Aquino's contested cyber libel law gets new claws in ruling vs Rappler
Supreme Court dissenters warned against a cyber libel law that takes its definition from a 1930 statute, but will be applied to the internet age. They were overruled. The Rappler ruling is a new threatening development.
U.S. senators warn verdict vs Ressa sets 'dangerous precedent'
'Today we must face our own fear: that one of the oldest democracies in Asia…is abandoning its commitment to fundamental freedoms including freedom of the press,' say US Senators Edward Markey, Patrick Leahy, and Dick Durbin
Progressive orgs slam Duterte for taking advantage of pandemic to attack media
The Save Our Schools Network says it believes the conviction is part of the Duterte administration's aim to silence critical media
After ruling vs Ressa, uploaded old print articles vulnerable to cyber libel
'In other words, your articles from 3 ago or even 10 years ago can be used to sue you for cyber libel on the ground that they had been republished,' says lawyer Romel Bagares, one of the petitioners against the 2012 Cybercrime Law
U.S. should resist Maria Ressa verdict – Washington Post
The conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa 'ought to be shocking to democratic nations,' says the Washington Post Editorial Board
IBP questions jail sentence for Maria Ressa despite SC guidance to set only fines
Manila Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa says social media makes 'the keyboard mightier than the pen and thus mightier than the sword'
Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright stand with Maria Ressa
'We must fiercely protest attacks on the press. They are attacks on democracy,' says former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton
Guilty verdict proves gov’t could exhaust resources to attack critics, schools say
The Departments of Communication and Political Science of the Ateneo de Manila University-Loyola Schools and University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication criticize the government for its latest attempt to silence the media
Twitter expresses support for Maria Ressa, press freedom
'Governments should not impinge on the fundamental values of a free press,' says Twitter
Dissent through art in the time of media clampdown
Filipinos use art to express dissent following the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr
Judge Montesa 'failed to understand how journalism works'
The Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation blasts the verdict against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr, saying it puts everyone online in peril
'Nakakalungkot, nakakagalit": PH stars express outrage after Maria Ressa is convicted of libel
Quark Henares, Antoinette Jadaone, Dan Villegas, and Janine Gutierrez are some of the artists who expressed their dismay over the verdict
Why democracies should push back vs Maria Ressa verdict
'This is an international test for respect for the rule of law,' says world-renowned journalist Peter Greste
International media groups denounce Ressa, Santos' conviction
(5th UPDATE) The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong Kong, and International Federation of Journalists say the conviction is a crime against press freedom
'Another blow to press freedom’: Student groups condemn cyber libel conviction
Various groups say the guilty verdict depicts a clear message to silence institutions that report on the truth about the government
Journalists show solidarity with Ressa and Santos, slam guilty verdict
The verdict would render journalists and citizens defenseless against government officials who will do anything to evade accountability, they say
Business groups: Ressa verdict threatens Filipinos' rights, freedoms
(UPDATED) 'It is a big blow to press freedom especially given serious constitutional questions on whether the law is applicable at all. This would threaten our other rights and freedoms,' business groups say
#CourageON: How you can support Rappler after cyber libel verdict
The decision will not silence us. It has made us more resolute in our mission to hold power to account.
Robredo: Be wary of Ressa verdict's ‘chilling’ effect on citizens’ freedoms
'Silencing, harassing, and weaponizing law against the media sends a clear message to every dissenting voice: Keep quiet or you are next,' warns Vice President Leni Robredo
What Maria Ressa conviction means for reporting confidential sources
Judge Montesa's 37-page ruling does not discuss how to treat confidential sources. Instead it faults Rappler for 'not verifying' and stresses that the free press must be responsible.
Court affirms republication a separate libel offense, prescription period is 12 years
(UPDATED) Had it not been for those 2 legal issues, the disputed article would not have been covered by 2012 Cybercrime Law. Ressa warns it affects everyone who posts online.
UN experts condemn guilty verdict on Ressa, Santos: 'Tragedy for PH democracy'
'What a complete travesty of justice and an outrage,' says UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye
Lawmakers to Filipinos: Resist repression as Ressa's conviction 'not the last'
(UPDATED) 'We are complicit if we stay silent,' says Senator Risa Hontiveros
‘A sad day for democracy’: Filipinos denounce guilty verdict in Rappler cyber libel case
(UPDATED) Filipinos online say the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr is ‘another cut to add to the thousands’
Rights groups slam cyber libel conviction: Dangerous to PH democracy
(UPDATED) Karapatan says the guilty verdict 'sends an even more dangerous message to the public that anyone and everyone can be criminalized for their views and opinions'
DOCUMENT: Decision on cyber libel conviction of Maria Ressa et al
Read here the full decision of Judge Rainelda Estacio Montesa convicting Maria Ressa and Rey Santos Jr of cyber libel
Rappler statement on cyber libel conviction: Failure of justice, failure of democracy
The decision today marks not the rule of law, but the rule of law twisted to suit the interests of those in power who connive to satisfy their mutually beneficial personal and political agenda
[EDITORIAL] Dagok sa demokrasya
Sa ibinabang desisyon, hindi batas ang nangibabaw; ang nagwagi ay ang pagbaluktot ng batas para sa kasiyahan at interes ng mga nasa kapangyarihan at kanilang mga kasabwat
Maria Ressa, Rey Santos Jr convicted of cyber libel
(4th UPDATE) The court rules only Rappler as a company is not guilty
