Philippine journalist Maria Ressa waves to members of the media after attending a court hearing in Manila on July 22, 2020, on charges of tax evasion. FILE PHOTO / AFP
MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Tax Appeals has granted Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s request to travel to Oslo, Norway to receive her Nobel Peace Prize award on Dec. 10.
In its Dec. 6, 2021 order, the CTA First Division said the prosecution no longer filed an opposition on Ressa’s bid to travel.
“Counsels for the prosecution did not file any comment nor opposition to the accused’s urgent motion to travel outside the country,” read the CTA’s resolution.
Based on the resolution, Ressa’s travel will be from Dec. 8 to Dec. 13, 2021.
The court required her that upon three days from her arrival, she should inform the court via electronic mail attaching a photocopy or scanned copy of her passport with arrival stamp from the Bureau of Immigration.
The Tax Court also reminded her to comply with travel guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for arriving passengers.
It added that even if she fails to return, the trial will proceed as scheduled in her absence.
The resolution was signed by Associate Justices Catherine Manahan, Marian Ivy Reyes-Fajardo and Jean Marie Bacorro-Villena, special member.
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