NUPL’s Olalia says guilty verdict vs Ressa ‘most disappointing, bad news’

MANILA, Philippines — Can the people still cling to the hope that ultimately they can come to our courts for refuge and reason?

This was the question posed by National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) president Edre Olalia after a Manila court found Rappler Executive Editor and CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty of violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act specifically for cyber libel.

“In a parched land of searing attacks on freedom of speech and expression and other very basic rights, this is most disappointing and bad news indeed,” Olalia said in a statement.

The verdict stemmed from a 2012 article written by Santos claiming that businessman Wilfredo Keng lent his sports utility vehicle to then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The same article also cited an intelligence report that said Keng had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

“Once again, a number of our courts have missed the noble opportunity to hand out verdicts saying they will not be a party to the insanity and legal bullying,” Olalia said.

“The message is clear, the arrogant powers can squander time, resources and power on getting back at those asserting their rights and calling them out. Despite this, we should not be cowed and muted,” he added.

Keng filed the complaint against Ressa in 2017, five years since the original article was published. The article was apparently republished in 2014 due to typographical error.

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