Duterte-critic Journalist Given Second Philippine Cyber Libel Charge
Sumaira FH Published December 04, 2020 | 01:50 PM
Manila, Dec 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Dec, 2020 ) :Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa asked a court on Friday to quash the second charge of cyber libel she has faced this year, in a case sparked by a screenshot of an online news article.
The critic of President Rodrigo Duterte is already on bail pending an appeal against a conviction in June for the same type of offence, for which she faces up to six years in prison.
Ressa and her news site Rappler face at least a dozen criminal charges and probes after publishing stories critical of the Duterte government, including its bloody war on drugs that has killed thousands.
Ex-Rappler journalist Reynaldo Santos was also found guilty in the previous case.
Ressa, a former CNN journalist, described the latest cyber libel charge as "crazy" and "dangerous".
The charge -- which prosecutors filed on November 23 -- stems from a complaint by businessman Wilfredo Keng over Ressa's tweet in 2019 of a screenshot of a 2002 story published by Philstar.com about Keng.
The news site removed the article "after the camp of Mr. Wilfredo Keng raised the possibility of legal action", Philstar.com said last year.
"It's crazy that I have to face a criminal case for tweeting a screengrab of a newspaper article," Ressa told journalists after appearing in court Friday.
"By any stretch of the imagination that just seems off. That's why we have a motion to quash." Ressa, who Time magazine named as a Person of the Year in 2018, has asked the court to dismiss the charge on the grounds she cannot be liable for sharing a screenshot of a news story she did not write.
"This is a bad precedent for social media, for Twitter," she said.
"This is very dangerous." Ressa's June conviction also stemmed from a complaint made by Keng in 2017 over a Rappler story five years earlier about his alleged ties to a judge on the nation's top court.
The cyber libel charges against Ressa were made under a controversial cybercrime statute aimed at online offences, such as stalking and child pornography.
Duterte has faced international calls to drop all charges against the veteran reporter, with rights groups saying they amount to state harassment. But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
In July Duterte, who has a history of clashing with media outlets critical of his administration, called Ressa a "fraud".
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
20 hours ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
21 hours ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
3 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
5 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
5 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
6 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
6 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
6 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
8 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
12 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
13 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
13 days ago