MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidates from opposition coalition "Otso Diretso" have expressed condemnation against the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Ressa Wednesday evening for a cyber libel charge over an article published in 2012.
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Lawyer Chel Diokno, Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo Party-list), former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and former Rep. Erin Tañada (Quezon) branded the arrest as a blatant attack against freedom of the press.
"We believe that if someone is guilty, there should be a punishment. But in this case, this is a blatant attack not only against the free press, but also the whole justice system in the country," Diokno said in a statement.
Diokno said that the Duterte administration has been going after its critics since it assumed office.
"You are not even satisfied with your army of trolls, now you want to take over cyberspace," he added.
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'No legal basis'
Alejano, meanwhile, warned that attacks against journalists are a sign of weakening democracy.
"One thing cannot be considered a crime if it does not have legal basis. Our Constitution and its laws are clear," Alejano said in a statement.
Tañada agreed that Ressa's arrest does not have basis and only proves that the Duterte government has "no space for a free press."
"There is no basis for her arrest because the crime she is accused to have committed was not a crime because there was no [Anti-Cybercrime] law at the time. When there is no law, there is no crime," Tañada said.
Ressa was arrested over an article published May 29, 2012, four months before the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was signed into law. Ressa's camp has been arguing that they could not be charged with cyber libel as the law was not yet in effect when the article was published.
State prosecutors, however, argued that an update on the story on Feb. 19, 2014 places it under the "multiple publication rule." Rappler has said the update was to correct a typographical error.
Hilbay, meanwhile, lamented how corrupt politicians have not yet been arrested.
"Those who truly stole from the country are not being arrested because they are too old. The bail being asked is too small compared to the amount they stole," Hilbay said, referring to Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, widow of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
In November, anti-graft court Sandiganbayan found the former first lady guilty of seven counts of graft. The Marcos widow was allowed to post bail for P150,000 while seeking post-conviction remedies.
As of Thursday morning, Ressa's legal counsel JJ Disini is processing her bail at Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46. Her lawyer said he is confident the Rappler CEO will be released within the day.
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