NBI denies Maria Ressa’s cyber libel raps a ‘priority’ case

An official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday denied that the cyber libel charges filed against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was a case being "prioritized" by the bureau over other cases it is handling.

"Hindi [siya priority] actually sir. In fact at that time, on that day, dalawa ang cases na hina-handle namin, Sir, not related to Maria Ressa, but within the vicinity and we were conducting surveillance at that time," NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Victor Lorenzo said in an interview on GMA News TV's News To Go.

Lorenzo also denied that they intentionally served the arrest warrant late in the afternoon so that Ressa would have to spend the night at the NBI office in Manila.

"Wala kaming intensyon to let her stay dito sa NBI or hold her overnight. In fact we just chanced upon her na nandu'n siya. May valid kaming warrant, we might as well go past her office, tapos nandu'n siya sir."

Ressa's case stems from a cyber libel complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng against her and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos for running a story—“CJ using SUVs of ‘controversial’ businessmen”— supposedly linking him to human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Ressa previously described the issuance of the warrant as a "travesty of justice" at a timing that was "questionable" and "suspicious."

The move had likewise been slammed by local and foreign journalists, as well as several politicians and human rights advocates, as an attack on press freedom.

Lorenzo, however, insisted the NBI was not singling Ressa out.

"So kung meron kami, although may mga challenges kami in terms of the volume of work, we handle cases one at the time. Kung ano ang nandiyan, kung puwede nating imbestigahan, kung puwede nating i-serve, puwede nating i-implement, then we handle it one case at the time."

Lorenzo also emphasized that the confrontation between a Rappler reporter taking footage of the arrest and an NBI agent inside the media organization's headquarters was a "misinterpretation."

"Misinterpretation lang 'yun sir kasi natural reactions 'yon ng agents na makiusap na, 'Huwag mo namang i-publish 'yan.' Kasi they are on ongoing surveillance, ongoing under cover operations. 'Yang mga regular agents, mga field operatives kasi sir. 'Yan ang natural tendency nila na makiusap na huwag naman i-publish kasi baka ma-compromise for security reasons," the NBI Cybercrime Division chief explained.

Lorenzo had previously denied that the NBI agent was trying to intimidate Rappler employees. — MDM, GMA News