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Marcos says it's 'improper' to interfere with cases vs Ressa, Rappler

Philippines | National

Marcos says it's 'improper' to interfere with cases vs Ressa, Rappler

By Betheena Unite

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he will not interfere in the cases filed against Maria Ressa and Rappler, saying it is "improper" to do so.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate / Manila Bulletin)

Marcos made the statement when asked about the cases the Nobel Peace Prize winner and Rappler CEO is currently facing during his meeting with Asia Society while he is in the United States.

"We have a very clear delineation of powers in our political system, very much styled after the American system where we have the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. And they are co-equal," Marcos said.

"And so it is highly improper for the executive to interfere in either the legislature or the judiciary," he added.

As of June 2022, there are at least seven cases pending in court against Rappler and Ressa.

Marcos' thoughts were also sought on whether or not Ressa's stance on issues, including the deadly drug war under the previous administration, might be among the reasons for the complaints against her.

"Well... Really what have happened with Maria Ressa and Rappler is that it was determined that it is a foreign enterprise. And that’s not allowed in our rules, in our law," he said.

"And what her situation right now is that it has nothing to do with her political leanings. What has happened is that an individual has filed cyber libel cases against her and that’s what she is facing now. So that is the situation with Maria Ressa," he added.

The President also said that amid all these pending cases filed against Ressa and Rappler, the 10-year-old online news website remains operational.

"Rappler actually continues to operate. You can look them up on the Internet. They make their comments and make their posts and they continue to operate in that way," he said.

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