Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Rodrigo Duterte, President of Philippines has expressed concern over the cyber-libel charges against Maria Ressa, CEO and Executive Editor of Rappler and chairperson of the Indonesian Women’s Journalists Forum (FJPI).
PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned the intimidation of journalists in Philippines and arrest of Maria Ressa. PPF also urged the authorities in Philippines to drop all charges against Ressa and stop targeting her for fulfilling her journalistic responsibilities.
According to Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officers on February 13 arrested the journalist from Rappler’s office in Pasig city of Philippines. The journalist was arrested for an article published on the online news website in 2012.
The warrant against the journalist was issued on February 12 by the ruling Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of the Manila RTC on the charge of violating section 4(C)(4) of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
However, after spending one night at the NBI headquarters, Ressa was released on PHP 100,000 (USD 1,917) bail the next day on February 14, at Branch 46 of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
