Philippines: Court Dismisses Criminal Case Against Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa
Ressa still faces cyber-libel conviction and other ongoing legal battles
Location: Philippines, Manila
Date: December 12, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom celebrates the recent triumph in the legal battle of Nobel laureate Maria Ressa in the Philippines. We commend the unwavering dedication of her legal team led by Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC. This momentous occasion, in which the Philippine Justice Department dismissed a criminal case against Ressa regarding alleged foreign ownership of her news platform, Rappler, is a victory for journalism and press freedom. Ressa has faced unjust and baseless accusations since 2018, casting a shadow over her exceptional career as a journalist and her dedication to the principles of truth and free expression. The charges against her were not only without merit but also threatened to silence a prominent voice in journalism, potentially sentencing her to a maximum of 21 years in prison. While we applaud the recent dismissal of this particular case, we remain acutely aware of the ongoing legal battles that Maria Ressa confronts. We firmly demand for the renowned journalist to be acquitted of all remaining charges against her.
“Again, facts win. Truth wins. Justice wins. We will continue to hold the line.” says Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa in response to the dismissal of the criminal case against her.
Ressa was cleared of a criminal case on Tuesday, December 12, by the Philippine Justice Department. The renowned journalist, who has been unjustly targeted with multiple charges in the last five years, was accused of allegedly having foreign ownership of her news website Rappler. Had she been found guilty, she could have been sentenced to a maximum of 21 years behind bars.
Ressa's legal team welcomed the decision, expressing relief that another baseless case against their client had been dismissed.
“Facts win. Truth wins. Justice wins. We will continue to hold the line”
"For years our brave client Maria Ressa has faced a barrage of spurious criminal investigations and prosecutions for doing her job — for being a journalist. We are pleased to see another spurious case against Maria dismissed. But Maria still faces decades behind bars for her journalism. The authorities must end this for once and for all, drop all remaining charges and concede Maria’s cyberlibel appeal.” says Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Ressa's lawyer.
“For years our brave client Maria Ressa has faced a barrage of spurious criminal investigations and prosecutions for doing her job — for being a journalist”
The charges against Ressa centered around a 2015 investment from an American philanthropic investment fund, which was alleged to have violated Philippine law prohibiting foreign ownership or control of media organizations. However, Ressa's international legal team maintained that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing in the case.
This dismissal of charges marks the latest development in Ressa's ongoing legal battle in the Philippines, which many media critics believe to be retaliatory in nature. At one point, Ressa faced the possibility of a combined sentence of over 100 years in jail due to multiple cases filed against her.
The Philippine government has consistently denied that the legal action against Ressa and Rappler is retaliatory. However, the acquittal of Ressa and Rappler on tax evasion charges in September further fueled suspicions of political persecution.
Rappler, the news website co-founded by Ressa, is also fighting a closure order issued by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.
Amal Clooney, who leads Ressa's international legal team alongside Caoilfhionn Gallagher at Doughty Street Chambers, expressed her satisfaction with the dismissal of charges. "This is an important victory for Maria and for the press. Maria has spent four years with these baseless charges hanging over her, and we are delighted that they have finally been dismissed," she said.
Clooney also expressed hope that the remaining charges against Ressa would be dropped, allowing justice to be restored and journalism to thrive in the Philippines. The international community will undoubtedly be watching closely as Ressa's legal saga continues to unfold.
The case against Ressa and her fellow directors was initiated in 2019 but was ordered to be reinvestigated in October of the same year, granting them their right to due process. Following the re-investigation, the prosecution admitted that it lacked evidence to charge Ressa with a criminal offense, leading to the dismissal of the case.
This development comes after Ressa's acquittal earlier this year in two other criminal cases based on false tax evasion charges. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion hailed the acquittal as a victory for media freedom and justice. However, Ressa still faces a conviction for cyber libel, which carries a prison term of over six and a half years. She also faces separate criminal proceedings related to the 2015 foreign investment, which could result in a maximum 15-year sentence. Additionally, Rappler is battling an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission to revoke its registration and shut down, as well as facing a prolonged tax audit.
The ongoing harassment against Ressa and Rappler by the state has been widely condemned internationally, with the UN, the US Department of State and Congress, the EU, and the Media Freedom Coalition expressing their disapproval. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion highlighted the Philippines as a country where authorities publicly denounce and discredit journalists, civil society organizations, and activists, putting their safety at risk.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands firmly in solidarity with Maria Ressa and offers steadfast support. We wholeheartedly commend the relentless dedication and unwavering support of Maria Ressa's women-led legal team, led by Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC. Their tireless efforts have played an essential role in securing this recent victory. However, it is incumbent upon the relevant authorities to recognize the profound impact of these continued legal battles on press freedom and the safety of journalists. We call upon the authorities to drop all remaining charges against this esteemed journalist, recognizing that her dedication to truth and justice should be celebrated, not silenced.
We will continue to closely monitor and document Ressa's ongoing legal battle.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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