Maria Ressa spends night at NBI

MANILA, Philippines — Rappler’s Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa will spend the night at the office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after a Pasay City night court refused to accept bail for her cyber libel case.

Ressa was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 on Tuesday, February 12, but was only served by agents of the NBI inside Rappler’s office in Pasig City on Wednesday afternoon.

READ: Court orders arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

Ressa’s cyber libel case stems from the complaint of businessman Wilfredo Keng, who was the subject of Rappler’s article titled “CJ using SUVs of controversial businessman.”

The CJ being referred to in the story was former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was then under an impeachment trial.

Keng had denied the allegation and requested that Rappler take down the article.

Rappler instead updated the story in 2014. /ee