MANILA, Philippines — Like any other accused, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa should have been treated fairly, former broadcast journalist and senatorial aspirant Jiggy Manicad said Thursday.
Ressa was arrested on Wednesday evening for a cyberlibel case, which stemmed from an article about a businessman published in May 2012.
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Agents from the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the Rappler CEO after office hours, preventing her from making bail.
"As a former police beat reporter, we know that there should be courts handling proceedings at night, in the case of Maria, she should have been given a chance to avail of legal remedies such as posting bail," Manicad said in Filipino in a text message.
According to Rappler, a Pasay night court judge refused to accept the bail of Ressa despite having the authority to do so under Rule 114 section 17 of the Rules of Court.
Ressa had to spend the night at the conference room of the NBI Cybercrime Division in Manila.
Manicad called on the Department of Justice to review its procedures following the arrest of the Rappler chief.
"The treatment should be fair among all those who are accused. The DOJ should review their procedures in relation to this," Manicad said.
A few weeks ago, Manicad insisted that press freedom in the country is not under attack and that legal action against Rappler was an isolated case.
In an earlier interview with ONE News' "The Chiefs," the senatorial bet said the government has basis for filing charges against the online news site.
"Now, because of that handling, someone got angry and ordered an investigation, does it really translate to an attack on press freedom? How come in other networks, it’s not like that?” Manicad said in Filipino. — with a report from James Relativo/Pilipino STAR Ngayon