Michelle ThompsonA trial court in the Philippines cleared Maria Ressa and her news outlet Rappler of the charge of tax fraud on Tuesday, granting the persecuted journalist and press freedom in the Southeast Asian nation yet another legal win.
Ressa, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with a Russian journalist in 2021, is the editor-in-chief of Rappler, which gained notoriety for its rigorous examination of the former president Rodrigo Duterte and his lethal war on drugs.
Ressa informed reporters following the announcement of the decision. Because her tax charges “have a lot to do with the rule of law,” her acquittal sends a “good signal” to the business sector.
The verdict has strengthened Ressa’s commitment to pursue justice and to submit to the court despite political intimidation and attacks on press freedom.
It demonstrates the efficiency of the legal system. The remaining charges should be dropped, she continued.
After Ressa was exonerated of comparable tax accusations nine months prior, her acquittal was anticipated.
These accusations are a result of a 2018 government indictment that holds Ressa and Rappler accountable for evading tax obligations after they failed to disclose the earnings from the sale of depositary receipts to overseas investors in 2015.
Ressa, 59, was found guilty in 2020 of cyber libel in one of several cases brought by government organizations against the website. She is currently free on bond. She believed that the cases had political motivations.
After 14 months in office, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared he would refrain from interfering with the legal proceedings against Rappler.
In spite of an order from the securities regulator to close, Rappler is still free to operate.
One of Ressa’s attorneys, Francis Lim, expressed the hope of the defense team that the most recent acquittal will result in the dismissal of the other cases, including the closure order.
The Philippines is listed as having “extremely vibrant” media despite the government’s “targeted attacks and constant harassment” against journalists who are “too critical” and is ranked 132 out of 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index.
