Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) — The Court of Appeals denied Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s motion to travel abroad pending appeal of her conviction.
The court said in its resolution released to the public on Wednesday that Ressa failed to prove the urgency and necessity of her presence overseas. This was also pointed out by the Office of the Solicitor General, the resolution stated.
“There is no basis to grant her motion,” the resolution dated August 18 said.
Ressa had requested to leave the country to attend events in the US such as the conferment of the “2020 International Press Freedom Award Honoree” from the National Press Club and panel discussions on the documentary “A Thousand Cuts” where she featured in. She had intended to leave August 23 and return to the Philippines on September 19.
Ressa’s motion cited that she was previously given permission to travel. However, the court said her conviction “changes her situation” and that she can still attend the events virtually.
A Manila court in June convicted Ressa along with former Rappler researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. for a cyber libel case filed by a businessman. Ressa and Santos are currently out on bail.
“[T]he bail puts the accused under the jurisdiction of the court, and it operates as a valid restriction in a person’s right to travel,” the court stated.
