Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) — Several nations and rights groups on Wednesday commended the Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) decision to clear Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and media company Rappler in their tax violation cases, calling it an important step towards achieving press freedom in the country.
In a joint statement, the embassies of the Netherlands and Canada – co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition in the Philippines – said the acquittal marks a “positive step towards upholding rule of law and media freedom.”
“Any measure that undermines the independence and freedom of the press must be strictly scrutinized with the highest standards of law and human rights,” they added.
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Statement by @NLinPhilippines & @CanEmbPH, co-chairs of the @MediaFreedomC in the PH, on the acquittal of Rappler Holdings Inc. and Maria Ressa in the Tax Evasion cases pic.twitter.com/s2nyrnQ8ub
— NLEmbassyPhilippines (@NLinPhilippines) January 18, 2023
