"Philippine journalist and prominent Duterte critic Maria Ressa charged again
MANILA: Philippine authorities said Wednesday (Mar 27) they had filed more criminal charges against Maria Ressa, a veteran reporter and prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, six weeks after detaining her overnight.
Ressa is the chief executive and editor of online news site Rappler, which has reported extensively on Duterte's deadly anti-drugs crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives and which rights groups say may be a crime against humanity.
Ressa has accused Duterte of using prosecutions against her, including ongoing cases of alleged tax evasion and libel, to silence critics and intimidate the press.
Ressa insists the site is not anti-Duterte, saying it is just doing its job to hold the government to account.
The journalist, together with six other current and former Rappler board members and editors, has now been accused of securities fraud.
Rappler said Ressa is abroad. However the six others charged posted bail on the new charges on Wednesday.
Ressa, who has Philippine and US passports, was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for her journalism and her Feb 13 arrest sparked international censure."
I took an interest in this news report as I remembered Maria as the Philippines correspondent for Channel News Asia when it was just formed. She was pretty good in my opinion then.
Just last night I saw her n her Rappler journalists in the CNA current affairs documentary on: Fighting "fake news" n learned that her Rappler has a pretty strong reputation for reporting the truth, sometimes inconvenient, with facts checked! Obviously the disagreement with Duterte's "Take no prisoners fight against drug abuses" can develop into a blind fight between one who believes in strong n ruthless approach vs. a more humanitarian n "u can't kill people just becoz they sell n/or take drugs!!
The big question has always been: if a fanatical Duterte's supporter took the unthinkable action of harming the journalists, who is responsible?
Maria n her colleagues r always in danger given guns r quite easily available!
Blessed her n may her energy not be misdirected!!
MANILA: Philippine authorities said Wednesday (Mar 27) they had filed more criminal charges against Maria Ressa, a veteran reporter and prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, six weeks after detaining her overnight.
Ressa is the chief executive and editor of online news site Rappler, which has reported extensively on Duterte's deadly anti-drugs crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives and which rights groups say may be a crime against humanity.
Ressa has accused Duterte of using prosecutions against her, including ongoing cases of alleged tax evasion and libel, to silence critics and intimidate the press.
Ressa insists the site is not anti-Duterte, saying it is just doing its job to hold the government to account.
The journalist, together with six other current and former Rappler board members and editors, has now been accused of securities fraud.
Rappler said Ressa is abroad. However the six others charged posted bail on the new charges on Wednesday.
Ressa, who has Philippine and US passports, was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for her journalism and her Feb 13 arrest sparked international censure."
I took an interest in this news report as I remembered Maria as the Philippines correspondent for Channel News Asia when it was just formed. She was pretty good in my opinion then.
Just last night I saw her n her Rappler journalists in the CNA current affairs documentary on: Fighting "fake news" n learned that her Rappler has a pretty strong reputation for reporting the truth, sometimes inconvenient, with facts checked! Obviously the disagreement with Duterte's "Take no prisoners fight against drug abuses" can develop into a blind fight between one who believes in strong n ruthless approach vs. a more humanitarian n "u can't kill people just becoz they sell n/or take drugs!!
The big question has always been: if a fanatical Duterte's supporter took the unthinkable action of harming the journalists, who is responsible?
Maria n her colleagues r always in danger given guns r quite easily available!
Blessed her n may her energy not be misdirected!!
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