IPI protests harassment of member in the Philippines

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI), has expressed grave concern over the harassment and prosecution of Rappler founder and editor, Maria Ressa, who is a member of the IPI Executive Board, expressing dismay that the Philippines government appears not to tolerate criticism of its actions even when they are for the development of the nation.

IPI, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, conveyed their dismay to the Philippine government in a letter signed by Kabiru Yusuf, the Chairman of IPI Nigerian National Committee and Wada Maida, the member representing IPI Executive Board in Vienna.

The group in a letter sent to the Philippines government via a letter through Mr Alex Lamadrid, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Abuja, stated that the Manila Regional Trial Court will on June 15, deliver a ruling in a cyber libel prosecution against Ms Ressa, expressing great alarm that the case appears to be based on a trumped-up indictment in which the law has been applied retroactively to charge and intimidate Ms Ressa.

“As you must be aware, Ms Ressa is an internationally acclaimed journalist, who has been recognised and hailed for her contribution to journalism because of her courage and resolve to uphold press freedom and speak truth to power.  Ms Ressa’s contribution to journalism has been acknowledged around the world. She was one of four journalists named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ for taking “great risks in pursuit of greater truth.” That same year, Rappler received the IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer Award.

“In any democracy, independent journalists and media outlets play a key role as a watchdog. Investigative journalism brings to light the challenges and problems faced by the people, which help society and governments to resolve and remedy them. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, it appears that the government does not tolerate criticism of its actions. We are dismayed that the government has filed as many as nine cases against Ms Ressa in a blatant attempt to silence her and shut down Rappler,” IPI said in its letter.

According to IPI, the legal cases which are only aimed at criminalising Ms Ressa’s reporting and carry combined sentences of more than 100 years in prison, include two libel prosecutions, two criminal cases alleging foreign ownership in Rappler and investigations of old tax returns.

IPI noted that it is aware that the cyber libel case is based on an investigative report that Rappler published on May 29, 2012, involving the former Chief Justice, Renato Corona and a businessman.

“The businessman filed a libel complaint with the National Bureau of Investigations’ (NIB) cybercrime division in 2017 based on Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which became law four months after the story was published. Initially, in 2018 the NIB decided not to pursue the complaint but the Justice Ministry reopened the case, applying the law retrospectively.

“Ms Ressa was arrested on February 13, 2019, and had to spend time in detention before being released on bail. The case has attracted international attention and criticism. The United States Senate has described the persecution of Ms Ressa as part of a pattern of “weaponizing the rule of law” to repress independent media in the Philippines. Similarly, top diplomats of Canada and the United Kingdom have criticised the harassment of Ms Ressa,” the letter said.

The Nigerian National Committee of IPI reiterated that it stands in solidarity with Maria Ressa, who they described as an esteemed colleague and journalist of the highest calibre and urged Alex Lamadrid to press upon his government to withdraw all cases against Ms Ressa, and uphold human rights, press freedom and democratic norms.

 

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