Don't drag Duterte in Ressa's libel case --Bato
Published Jun 15, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Monday told critics to keep the Duterte administration out of the Manila court's decision on the cyber libel case against journalist and Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 handed down a guilty verdict on Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos over cyber libel charges in relation to a 2012 article linking businessman Wilfredo Keng to impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Ressa and Santos were sentenced to at least six months and one day to a maximum of six years in jail. They were entitled to a post-conviction bail.
Opposition senators, in separate statements earlier, slammed the verdict and raised alarm over its possible effect to press freedom and democracy.
But Dela Rosa said it was "foul" to even link Duterte to the court's ruling.
"That is purely an independent decision handed down by a judicial court that originated from a complaint filed by a private individual so it is so foul on the part of the critics to keep on dragging the Duterte administration into this issue," Dela Rosa, who was Duterte's former top cop, said in a text message.
Dela Rosa also downplayed the conviction's impact to press freedom.
"Attack on press freedom? Tell it to the marines!" he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that "court decisions are based on evidence and the law," pointing that Ressa still "has all the benefits of appeal to the higher courts."
Senator Panfilo Lacson said that due process does not end with the RTC's guilty verdict and that Ressa and Santos can still appeal the decision.
"On the issue of freedom of the press, which is guaranteed under our Constitution, I’m sure the Supreme Court will address and rule on the issue of constitutionality if it is not addressed by the Court of Appeals to the satisfaction of both Ms. Ressa and Mr. Santos," said Lacson.
Rappler earned Duterte's ire for its stories that are critical of him and his administration, including his war on drugs.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 handed down a guilty verdict on Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos over cyber libel charges in relation to a 2012 article linking businessman Wilfredo Keng to impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Ressa and Santos were sentenced to at least six months and one day to a maximum of six years in jail. They were entitled to a post-conviction bail.
Opposition senators, in separate statements earlier, slammed the verdict and raised alarm over its possible effect to press freedom and democracy.
But Dela Rosa said it was "foul" to even link Duterte to the court's ruling.
"That is purely an independent decision handed down by a judicial court that originated from a complaint filed by a private individual so it is so foul on the part of the critics to keep on dragging the Duterte administration into this issue," Dela Rosa, who was Duterte's former top cop, said in a text message.
Dela Rosa also downplayed the conviction's impact to press freedom.
"Attack on press freedom? Tell it to the marines!" he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that "court decisions are based on evidence and the law," pointing that Ressa still "has all the benefits of appeal to the higher courts."
Senator Panfilo Lacson said that due process does not end with the RTC's guilty verdict and that Ressa and Santos can still appeal the decision.
"On the issue of freedom of the press, which is guaranteed under our Constitution, I’m sure the Supreme Court will address and rule on the issue of constitutionality if it is not addressed by the Court of Appeals to the satisfaction of both Ms. Ressa and Mr. Santos," said Lacson.
Rappler earned Duterte's ire for its stories that are critical of him and his administration, including his war on drugs.