Biz groups say conviction of Ressa, ex-Rappler researcher threatens other rights, freedoms

Business groups on Monday expressed disappointment on the conviction of Rappler journalists over cyber libel charges, which they said threatens other rights and freedoms of Filipinos.

In a joint statement, business groups such as the Makati Business Club, the Filipina CEO Circle, the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference for Human Development, along with the Judicial Reform Initiative, warned that the verdict has a "chilling effect on journalism."

"This would threaten our other rights and freedoms, which are woven together to serve and protect society, especially the most vulnerable," the joint statement read.

"It raises alarm bells on the heels of the shutdown of ABS-CBN Corp.'s broadcast operations and the anti-terrorism bill that was certified urgent by and is awaiting signature of the president that dangerously diminishes civil rights," it added.

Earlier on Monday, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 found Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty of cyber libel, sentencing them jail time of six months and a day to as much as six years.

"The verdict — together with other recent developments — has a chilling effect on journalism at a time when we need it most: to get reliable information as we all fight the pandemic, especially when wrong information and intentional misinformation abound," the joint statement read.

"As we now face the biggest challenge in our lifetime in COVID-19, we rededicate ourselves to freedom of speech, freedom from want, and freedom from fear -- rights invoked the last time the whole world was at war," it added.

The cyber libel case stems from an article the news website published in 2012, months before the anti-cybercrime law was enacted. The article cites an intelligence report that linked businessman Wilfredo Keng, the private complainant, to human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Keng's complaint was dismissed by investigators at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2018, but this was transmitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for investigation a week later.

In 2019, prosecutors indicted Ressa and Santos over a version of the story that was republished in 2014.

Rappler has since argued that the 2014 update was just to correct a typographical error.

"We call on all citizens and public officials to focus on preserving our constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms which are so essential to rebuilding our economy and society at the soonest possible time," the business groups said. --KBK, GMA News