Malacañang said Monday that everyone should respect the Manila court decision to convict Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and a former-researcher of cyber libel, citing President Rodrigo Duterte supports press freedom and had nothing with the verdict.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a televised press briefing, said the President never failed a libel case against any journalist publishing news and articles that criticize him and his administration.
“Naniniwala po siya sa malayang pag-iisip at pananalita at ang paninindigan nya ang taong gobyerno ay hindi dapat onion-skinned kinakailangan hinaharap ang pula ng taumbayan, lalo na kung ito ay nanggagaling sa ating media,” Roque said.
(He believes in free thinking and speech, and his stand is that government officials should not be too sensitive and should face the criticisms of the people, especially from the media.)
Roque also cited that Duterte once supported Alexander Adonis, a Davao broadcaster facing a libel case.
Adonis was a former Bombo radio-Davao anchorman who was jailed for libel. He then challenged the Philippines’ libel laws before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, insisting criminal libel violates treaty obligations to promote freedom of expression.
Roque served as Adonis’ legal counsel as a human right lawyer before joining Duterte’s administration.
Former House Speaker Davao and first district Congressman Prospero Nograles filed the libel against Adonis, who ran a series of commentaries dubbed as the “Burlesque King.”
Also read: Rappler CEO Maria Ressa guilty of cyber libel
In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte and Maria Ressa clashed after the President sought the closure of Rappler for alleged foreign ownership and tax evasion – allegations the news company denied.
Duterte also banned Rappler’s reporter Pia Ranada from covering Malacañang events.
Duterte said Rappler’s reporters would be allowed to cover his events again if the Securities and Exchange Commission would declare it 100 percent Filipino-owned online news outfit.
Duterte said Rappler might be Central Intelligence Agency-sponsored “because CIA has been known to – well, the Rappler, if you will read, it takes every chance, if there’s a chance, to undermine you.”
In 2019, former Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo threatened to file a cyber libel and libel case against the Inquirer.net and Rappler for maliciously inferring that he recommended convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez’s executive clemency letter.
Rappler meanwhile said the conviction marked the “diminished freedom” in the country.