Rappler says Maria Ressa conviction a 'failure of justice, democracy'

Online news site Rappler on Monday described as "failure of justice and democracy" the Manila court's conviction of its CEO and executive editor, Maria Ressa, and former researcher Rey Santos of cyber libel.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Rapper said the conviction "sets a dangerous precedent not only for journalists but for everyone online."

FAILURE OF JUSTICE, FAILURE OF DEMOCRACY: Rappler statement on the conviction of Rappler CEO and Executive Editor @mariaressa and former researcher-writer Rey Santos Jr. for cyber libel#CourageOn #DefendPressFreedom #HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/9Ag4zdB3xM

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) June 15, 2020

"Today marks diminished freedom and more threats to democratic rights supposedly guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution, especially in the context of looming anti-terrorism law," it added.

Rappler issued the statement moments after the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 found Ressa and Santos guilty of cyber libel and sentenced them to six months and one day to up to six years in jail.

Meanwhile, Rappler, as company, was declared to have no liability by the court.

Government prosecutors indicted Ressa, Santos, and Rappler for cyber libel in January 2019 over an article published by the news site in 2012 that cites an "intelligence report" linking Wilfredo Keng, a businessman and the private complainant, to human trafficking and drug smuggling. --KBK, GMA News