De Lima lauds Ressa, media groups for Nobel Peace Prize nomination

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Leila de Lima congratulated Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa for their nominations for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

Jonas Gahre Støre, a Norwegian labor leader and parliamentary representative, nominated Ressa and the two media groups for the award.

Støre said that his nomination of Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders is recognizing their work and the media in general who cover trying times.

He also called Ressa a “symbol and representative” of the journalists in the world.

“Allow me to congratulate Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists and Maria Ressa on their nominations for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize,” said de Lima in a statement. “Journalists play a very crucial role in bringing factual and responsible news, most especially now in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of illiberal and strong-arm politics.”

“The world now is reeling under the insidious phenomenon of fake news and deliberate misinformation online. Ethical, courageous and truth-telling journalists have also become the target of harassment, persecution and death threats, while others have been killed with impunity for doing their job.”

Both de Lima and Ressa have a similar struggle in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as both women have been highly critical of the chief executive.

De Lima has been in jail since 2017 on trumped-up drug charges in what critics say is Duterte’s way of silencing dissent.

Ressa, meanwhile, has been slapped with several libel cases, all of which are still linked to Duterte.

“The nominations of RWB, CPJ and Maria Ressa are not only well deserved for their important role and valiant sacrifices to defend press freedom, protect journalists and represent fearless journalism, but also attest to the fact that, indeed, the world is watching and taking an action,” said de Lima. “I know that their nominations reflect the commitment of democratic organizations and nations of the world to defend the free press, to protect our journalists, and to safeguard the truth.”

“I wish Maria Ressa, Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders the best, and again extend to them my sincerest congratulations.”

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