2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. Image from Twitter / The Nobel Prize
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Monday said he disagrees with the Nobel Peace Prize award of journalist Maria Ressa.
“If the basis for awarding her is that she fought for press freedom then mali ang awarding body niyan. Mali. Hindi ako agree. Dahil meron naman tayong press freedom,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an online interview Monday when sought for comment on Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize award.
(If the basis for awarding her is that she fought for press freedom then the awarding was wrong. I don’t agree with it. Because we have press freedom.)
“I don’t know about the motivation sa pagbigay nila ng award kay Maria Ressa, I really don’t know but for me personally na ako’y tinatanong niyo, mali yung binigay na award,” he added.
(I don’t know about the motivation in giving the award to Maria Ressa, I really don’t know, but personally since you’re asking me, I find it wrong.)
In the 2021 World Press Freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders, the Philippines ranked 138th out of 180 countries, sliding down two places from its 2020 ranking.
Ressa and the news site Rappler have faced several cases that they said were only meant to harass critics of the present administration.
“Si Maria Ressa ay nagkakaso at na-convict sa kaso na finile ng isang private individual, it’s not the government who filed the case against her,” Dela Rosa pointed out.
(Maria Ressa was charged and convicted by a private individual, it’s not the government that filed a case against her.)
Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. had been convicted of cyberlibel — the first journalists in the country to be convicted with such a case.
“At bakit gagawin niyang suppression of press freedom yan? Mukhang mali ata ,” the senator said.
(Why should that be considered a suppression of press freedom? I think that’s wrong.)
Ressa is the first Filipino to receive the prestigious recognition.
The Nobel Prize management said Ressa will share the award with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
Unlike Dela Rosa, several senators hailed Ressa for being the first Filipino to win the Nobel Peace Prize award.
Sen. Richard Gordon congratulated Ressa, lauding her for standing up for press freedom “against tyrants and evildoers.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe said Ressa’s award solidified her place “not only as one of the country’s journalism icons, but also all over the world.”
Praises also poured in from United States President Joe Biden as well as the European Union, among others.
Senate medal of excellence
Dela Rosa was also asked about the Senate medal of excellence, which can be given to Ressa considering that a Nobel prize was among the five awards eligible for such a recognition from the upper chamber.
Asked if Ressa would be “deserving” of the Senate medal, the senator responded: “I don’t believe.”
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Ressa would be automatically qualified to receive the Senate medal.
But citing the resolution that established the medal, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri noted that giving Ressa the award must be put to a vote and require unanimity among the chamber’s members.