What happened to Maria Ressa case?

In June, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 convicted Ressa and Santos of cyber libel over a 2012 investigative article which reported on Keng’s alleged connection to illegal activities. Ressa and Santos are free on bail.

Who is Maria Reza?

Maria Angelita Ressa (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈɾesa], born October 2, 1963) is a Filipino-American journalist and author, the co-founder and CEO of Rappler. She previously spent nearly two decades working as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN.

What is the penalty for libel in the Philippines?

If a defamatory statement is considered grave oral defamation, the maximum penalty provided under the Revised Penal Code is imposed. The penalty imposed by Article 358 is arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period.

Can a person go to jail for libel Philippines?

Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes libel, committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, with prision correctional in its minimum and medium periods or fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 …

Is libel a civil or criminal case in the Philippines?

In addition to criminal libel, Article 26 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines established civil libel. The latter differs from criminal libel in that the penalty in the former may be limited to civil damages while the later may result in fine or imprisonment.

Who is the real owner of rappler?

Rappler

What is the case against rappler?

The first case that Keng filed against Rappler was related to a 2012 Rappler article alleging that Keng had links to human trafficking and drugs, which Keng denied. That case led to a 2020 conviction of Ressa and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr.

How do you prove libel in the Philippines?

The four elements of libel: The imputation must be malicious; The imputation must be defamatory; The imputation must be made publicly; The offended party must be identifiable.

How can I prove cyber libel in the Philippines?

353 of the RPC, the following requisites must be present: (a) it must be defamatory; (b) it must be malicious; (c) it must be given publicity; and (d) the victim must be identifiable.

Can a person go to jail for libel?

Defamation of character is not a crime. A person will not go to jail. However, it is a “tort” or civil wrong. This means that if a person/organization makes defamatory statements, the person affected may seek compensation for their damages as a result of the defamation, through a personal injury lawsuit.

Who was the journalist found guilty of libel in the Philippines?

High-profile journalist Maria Ressa has been found guilty of libel in the Philippines’ in a case seen as a test of the country’s media freedom. The former CNN journalist is the head of a news site that’s critical of strongman President Rodrigo Duterte.

When is a person liable for the crime of cyber libel?

– The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Art. 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.”

What does libel mean in the Penal Code?

Libel is defined by Art. 252 of the Revised Penal Code as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.

Why was Maria Ressa found guilty of cyber crime?

The case relates to an eight-year-old Rappler story alleging businessman Wilfredo Keng had links to illegal drugs and human trafficking. It also said he lent his car to a top judge. The article was written by former Rappler journalist Reynaldo Santos Jr who on Monday was found guilty alongside Ressa.