Urgent Action update: Journalist officially charged with cyber libel

Maria Ressa, human rights defender, was formally charged in court for one count of cyber libel.

On 14 May, Maria Ressa, human rights defender and executive editor of online news outlet Rappler, was formally charged in court for one count of cyber libel. Arrested on 13 February, she was released on bail after spending a night in jail. A month later, on 29 March, she was again arrested for allegedly violating the Philippines’ Anti-Dummy Law, which limits mass media ownership to Filipinos and Filipino-owned corporations. Ressa is also facing four counts of alleged tax-related violations for using financial mechanisms that Ressa argued are not taxable as these do not generate taxable income. Rappler has been a consistent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration, and Ressa’s arrest and prosecution appear to be part of a broader campaign to silence critics of the government.

Take action.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 27 JUNE 2019

Please write urgently in your own words or using the template letter included in English to:

Secretary, Department of Justice

Menardo I. Guevarra

DOJ Building, Padre Faura Street, 

Ermita, Manila

1000 Philippines 

(+632) 523 8482 to 98

[email protected]

Salutation: Dear Secretary Guevarra

And copies to:

Director, National Bureau of Investigation  

Dante Gierran 

NBI Building, Taft Avenue, Ermita 

Manila, Philippines 1000 

[email protected] 

Salutation: Dear Director

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

HIS EXCELLENCY MR ANTONIO MANUEL LAGDAMEO Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines 6-11 Suffolk Street SW1Y 4HG Tel: 020 7451 1780 Fax: 020 7930 9787 [email protected] [email protected] http://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph

Please check with your section before sending appeals after the above date.