Maria Ressa arraignment for libel reset by court
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. INQUIRER FILE
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila City Regional Trial Court has deferred the arraignment of Rappler executive editor and CEO Maria Ressa on Tuesday after her camp said they would appeal the dismissal of her motion to quash.
Manila RTC reset the arraignment to May 17.
In dismissing the motion to quash, Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montessa of the Manila RTC Branch 46 ruled that online publishers could be sued within 12 years of the publication of an allegedly libelous report.
READ: Manila court refuses to dismiss cyberlibel raps vs Rappler
Ressa expressed shock at how the court ruled on her motion to quash.
“Shocked that in one stroke, they will turn one year to 12 years. That’s huge. I guess this is a good test case,” she told reporters adding that this case will also determine whether judicial independence exist. /cbb
