Philippine journalist Maria Ressa released on bail after being arrested and charged with cyber libel
- Ressa, named a Time Magazine ‘person of the year’ in 2018, was arrested at the Manila headquarters of Rappler
Ressa stepped out of a Manila court where she posted bail after spending the night in detention at the National Bureau of Investigation, whose agents arrested her on Wednesday on a “cyber libel” charge that carries a penalty of 12 years behind bars.
Ressa, who garnered international recognition last year when she was among several reporters named Time magazine’s Person of the Year, was already facing charges of tax evasion in what critics said was an attempt to stifle critical reporting of Duterte.
Ressa, the chief executive and executive editor of the news site Rappler, was arrested at the news outlet’s Manila headquarters by plain clothes officers from the National Bureau of Investigation, the news site reported. Authorities also charged former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jnr.
The libel charge stems from a story published in May 2012, more than four months before the law Ressa and Santos are accused of violating was enacted.
The story, which was about an impeached chief justice, included details about businessman Wilfredo D. Keng, who filed the libel complaint for being described as having links to human trafficking and illicit drugs.
It was unclear late on Wednesday whether Ressa would be permitted to post bail, as she did in December after being charged with tax evasion. She did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Bureau of Investigation could not be reached for comment.