Duterte critical journalist convicted of defamation in the Philippines

Journalist Maria Ressa, tried for defamation in the Philippines, was convicted on Monday June 15 by a court in Manila. The former CNN journalist faces up to six years in prison. His supporters present this trial as an attempt to muzzle the critics of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Maria Ressa, 56, is the co-founder of the online news site Rappler, who has been the subject of several court proceedings after publishing critical articles against the policy of the head of state, including his bloody and controversial campaign against drug traffic.

"We will resist all attacks on press freedom," said journalists after her sentencing Maria Ressa, who was named by Time magazine as one of the personalities of the year 2018.

"It is a setback, but it is not unexpected either," she added. "They are trying to scare us, but don't be afraid. Because if you don't exercise your rights, you will lose them."

Thank you, dear friends, for all your well wishes, prayers, food (yummy), plants, gifts. I do feel the force is with us! And for the ones who I still have yet to meet, we've survived 4 years of attacks because of the generosity and kindness of strangers. There is so much good!

The journalist was left free pending consideration of her appeal.

The trial was based on an article written in 2012 on the alleged links between a businessman and the then president of the Supreme Court of the archipelago.

"You will be next"

The businessman's complaint was initially dismissed in 2017, but the file was then passed on to the prosecution, which decided to prosecute her and former journalist Reynaldo Santos, who wrote the article. The latter was also found guilty on Monday and remained free on bail.

The lawsuits are the result of a controversial cybercrime law, cracking down on defamation online, as well as harassment or child pornography. This law entered into force in September 2012, that is to say after the publication of the article complained of.

But the prosecution had argued that the correction of a typographical shell in 2014 - Rappler had replaced the word "evation" with "evasion" - meant that the article now fell under the law.

"I was warned: 'Shut up or you will be next ...' This is partly why I was targeted," Maria Ressa, who is also a former alumnus, told AFP last week. journalist for the American channel CNN.

Rodrigo Duterte's government has dismissed accusations that the case was political, saying the authorities are monitoring the law, including against journalists.

A campaign against press freedom in the Philippines

But human rights organizations and associations fighting for press freedom claim that this defamation case, the tax proceedings against Rappler and the government's efforts to withdraw its accreditation to the site are harassment.

Amnesty International said the "attacks" on Rappler were part of a campaign against press freedom in the Philippines.

The verdict comes a month after the cessation of broadcasting of ABS-CBN, the main Filipino media group, after the government unexpectedly issued a decree ordering their closure due to the difficulties of the discussions relating to the renewal of his license.

Rodrigo Duterte has been threatening to shut down ABS-CBN, a group that, like Rappler, had covered the president's "war on drugs" for years, which encouraged police to kill drug traffickers and addicts. alleged.

According to the Philippine Drug Control Agency, police have killed at least 5,600 people suspected of drug trafficking during official operations. According to organizations, the real balance sheet is at least three times higher.

Another very critical figure against this war against drug trafficking is Senator Leila de Lima, who has been in detention for three years for drug trafficking.

The independence of the judiciary, which has long been tainted with corruption, has been particularly undermined since the coming to power of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, according to rights organizations.

With AFP

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