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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Lawyers' group tells public not to hold back criticisms

Lawyers' group tells public not to hold back criticisms

Published Jun 15, 2020 11:20 am
By Jeffrey Damicog A lawyers’ group on Monday, June 15, urged the public not to hold back criticisms against the government following the cyberlibel conviction of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and its former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN) “Despite this, we should not be cowed and muted. With more reason should we fight back against both overt and tangential or thinly veiled gagging,” said National Union Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) chairman Atty. Edre Olalia in a statement. Amid the “searing attacks on freedom of speech and expression and other very basic rights,” Olallia called the conviction a “scorchingly disappointing and bad news indeed.” “Once again, a number of our courts have missed the noble opportunity to hand out verdicts saying they will not be a party to the insanity and legal bullying,” he stated. The lawyer lamented that the ruling showed “the arrogant powers can squander time, resources and power on getting back at those asserting their rights and calling them out.” “You shut up or you will get it,” Olalia observed. The cyberlibel case stemmed from the May 29, 2012 article published in Rappler’s website and written by former reporter Santos Jr. Titled “CJ Using SUVs of Controversial Businessman,” the article said that then Chief Justice Renato Corona was using a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban which was found registered to Keng whom Santos described as “shady” and involved in various crimes including illegal drugs and murder. At that time, Corona was facing an impeachment complaint. “After a careful evaluation of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense, the Court finds the prosecution’s evidence sufficient in establishing the guilt of both Accused Reynaldo Santos Jr. and Maria Ressa beyond reasonable doubt for Violation of Section 4(c)(4) pf Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012),” read the verdict of Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46. With this, the court sentenced the two to suffer imprisonment ranging from six months and one day up to six years. They were also slapped with fines were ordered each to pay P200,000 as moral damages and P200,000 as exemplary damages. “If a private individual, a so-called ‘netizen’, can be held accountable for any defamatory posts or comments in the internet, so too must accountability and journalistic responsibility be brought to bear upon online news organizations since the extent of its influence, as powered by the internet, goes beyond the physical limitation of printed publications,” the court stated. Read more: Manila court convicts Ressa, former Rappler researcher of cyber libel
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