CA denies Maria Ressa’s bid to travel to the US

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals has denied Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s bid to travel to the United States.

In a decision by the appeals court’s Special 14th Division, it said that Ressa failed to show the necessity and urgency of her intended travel to the US from Aug. 23 to Sept. 19.

Last June, Ressa, together with Reynaldo Santos, was found guilty of cyber libel.

Ressa and Santos filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied by Manila Court, prompting them to take the case before the Court of Appeals.

At the appeals court, Ressa filed a very urgent motion for permission to travel abroad pending appeal for the theatrical release and panel discussions of the documentary “A Thousand Cuts” from Aug. 1 to 31, and to be in Washington, D.C. where she will be conferred with the 2020 International Press Freedom Award Honoree on Aug. 24. She said she has a confirmed itinerary leaving Manila on Aug. 6 and returning on Sept. 1.

Then, she filed a second motion reiterating to leave the country on Aug. 23 and return on Sept. 19.

The Office of the Solicitor General has opposed Ressa’s motion, arguing that the right to travel is not absolute especially Ressa who should be subject to stricter restriction given her conviction.

The appeals court, in dismissing Ressa’s bid, said:  “Other than her brief narration, she has not presented further evidence to warrant her physical presence at the theatrical release and in the panel discussions of the documentary ‘A Thousand Cuts.’

“There is also no sufficient evidence to justify her intention to personally receive the award from the National Press Club. To reiterate, Ressa bears the burden of proving that her intended travel is necessary and urgent,” the court added.

As suggested, Ressa could use video conferencing and other technological applications in order for her to perform her duties as a media practitioner.

The appeals court pointed out that she has been utilizing these modes of communication when she accommodated foreign interviews and joined international conferences.

The decision was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig and concurred in by Associate Justice Danton Q. Bueser and Carlito B. Calpatura.

JE