Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 17)— The United States has expressed concern over the recent conviction of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former writer-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. for a cyber libel case.
In a statement late Tuesday evening, the US State Department also called on Philippine authorities to continue upholding the freedom of press and expression.
“The United States is concerned by the trial court’s verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for 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,” the statement read.
“Free speech is the lifeblood of democracy,” Morgan Ortagus, US State Department spokesperson, wrote in a separate social media post.
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 on Monday handed a guilty verdict against Ressa and Santos, sentencing both journalists to up to six years in jail for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The case stemmed from a 2012 Rappler investigative article which reported on businessman Wilfredo Keng’s alleged connection to illegal activities.
The high-profile case hogged global headlines— with several personalities around the world also voicing out support for the journalists.
“We must fiercely protest attacks on the press. They are attacks on democracy,” former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in a tweet, pertaining to Ressa’s verdict.
US Senators Edward Markey, Patrick Leahy, and Dick Durbin also called the development a “travesty of justice” and called on the Philippine government to drop all “politically motivated” charges against Ressa and Rappler.
Malacañang, however, previously stressed that the government had nothing to do with the conviction, saying the case was filed by a private complainant. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte supports free speech and press freedom in the country.
Free speech is the lifeblood of democracy. https://t.co/jjTPuLRqgn
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) June 16, 2020
Maria Ressa was convicted in the Philippines yesterday for doing her job.
As Amal Clooney wrote, the message to other journalists is “Keep quiet, or you’ll be next.”
We must fiercely protest attacks on the press. They are attacks on democracy. https://t.co/YYyamMVfht
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 15, 2020
