Urgent Action update: Journalist arrested twice in 6 weeks

Maria Ressa, human rights defender and executive editor of online news outlet Rappler, was arrested again on 29 March for allegedly violating the Philippines’ Anti-Dummy Law. Ressa was released several hours later after posting bail of PhP90,000 (approx. USD1,700); this was the second time she has been arrested in a matter of weeks.

Rappler has been a consistent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration, and Ressa’s arrest appears to be part of a broader campaign to silence critics of the government.

Take action.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 13 MAY 2019

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

Secretary

Menardo I. Guevarra

Department of Justice

DOJ Building, Padre Faura Street 

Ermita, Manila

1000 Philippines 

(+632) 523 8482 to 98

communications@doj.gov.ph

Salutation: Dear Secretary Guevarra

And copies to:

Director 

Dante Gierran 

National Bureau of Investigation 

NBI Building, Taft Avenue, Ermita 

Manila, Philippines 1000 

director@nbi.gov.ph

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 embassy@philemb.co.uk london.pe@dfa.gov.ph http://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph

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