Pangilinan decries ‘mob mentality,’ ‘aggression’ against media

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday condemned what he called “mob mentality and aggression toward the media.”

This was after Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa was arrested anew Friday shortly after her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) from San Francisco, California.

Ressa’s arrest was in connection with the case filed against her and other Rappler executives for an alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law and the Securities Regulations Code (SRC).

READ: Rappler sued for violating anti-dummy law in Pasig court

“We condemn this mob mentality and aggression toward the media as we urge the various sectors not to be intimidated and stand for fairness and truth and the right to free speech,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

For Pangilinan, the arrest was part of the administration’s alleged efforts to suppress the truth and silence its critics.

“This administration will indeed pull out all the stops to silence critics and suppress the truth,” the senator said.

“The arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa may be a simple bailable case at hand, but just how law enforcers were carrying it out sends a chilling message to other media outlets and to the public in general of portent of things to come if one gets in the way of the administration,” Pangilinan added.

Just last month, Ressa was also arrested for cyberlibel but was released after posting a P100,000-bail at Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46.

READ: Rappler’s Maria Ressa arrested for cyberlibel

/kga