‘Mistakes happen,’ says Palace in pooh-poohing Ressa’s inclusion in Time’s special issue

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday surmised that the inclusion of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa in Time magazine’s Most Influential Women of the Century could be a “mistake.”

“You can’t be correct all the time, mistakes happen. Maybe this is one of them,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview when sought for reaction on Ressa’s inclusion.

“But if that is the perception of those who measure her, eh ‘di wala tayong magagawa (then we can’t do anything about it). Ganyan talaga (That’s the way it is),” he added.

Ressa was among Time’s list of “influential women” alongside former President Corazon Aquino.  The veteran journalist was also hailed as Time’s Woman of the Year in 2018.

“She’s a good journalist, as far as I am concerned, except that she cannot go where beyond her biases,” Panelo said.

Ressa and Aquino join the ranks of women around the world like chemist Rosalind Franklin, tennis player Serena Williams, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, environmental activist Greta Thunberg, and singer Beyoncé.