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AFP Philippine court clears Filipino American Maria Ressa of tax evasion charges |
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa was cleared of tax evasion charges by a Philippine Tax Court.
Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. are appealing their conviction for cyber libel pending at the Supreme Court, the lone tax case at the Pasig City RTC, and the appeal on the closure of Rappler pending at the CA.
"Today, facts win. Truth wins. Justice wins," said journalist Ressa, a former CNN correspondent who co-founded Rappler, a Philippine online news outlet that was targeted by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte because it criticized his policies.
In an 80-page ruling, the court ordered the acquittal of Ressa and Rappler for “failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
In an 80-page ruling, the court ordered the acquittal of Ressa and Rappler for “failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
"These charges were a brazen abuse of power, political harassment against journalists trying to hold power to account," she said in a statement. "This is where business, capital markets, and press freedom meet. So this victory is not just for Rappler, it’s for every Filipino who has ever been unjustly accused.
"It’s a ray of sunshine, hope – for those like journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who begins her fourth year in prison in February and Leila de Lima, who begins her seventh year in prison in February as well," Ressa continued.
"I had a good feeling about today – not only because not one shred of evidence supporting these charges was presented in court – but also because of the way Justice Catherine Manahan ran the trial. She was tough. When I testified, she was joined by Justice Bacorro-Villena."
"It’s a ray of sunshine, hope – for those like journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who begins her fourth year in prison in February and Leila de Lima, who begins her seventh year in prison in February as well," Ressa continued.
"I had a good feeling about today – not only because not one shred of evidence supporting these charges was presented in court – but also because of the way Justice Catherine Manahan ran the trial. She was tough. When I testified, she was joined by Justice Bacorro-Villena."
The court's decision was a major victory for the Filipino American journalist, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, but it is not the end of her legal troubles in three other cases.
In the US, the National Press Club issued a statement: "We are overjoyed tonight to learn that Maria Ressa and her news site Rappler were acquitted in a case of tax evasion by a Philippine court. The case was an example of harassment by government prosecutors who were trying to stop Ressa and the journalism of Rappler. This is huge victory for journalism and for one of its most determined and inspiring leaders. We are overjoyed for Maria Ressa and we know she will press forward."
"You know, Martin Luther King says, yes - it will take time," Ressa told the BBC. "But as I was reading through the decision, and there was no reason to take us to court... we're not tax evaders - we never were… This was an incredibly important day because it would have set a direction for which way the Philippines was going."
"You know, Martin Luther King says, yes - it will take time," Ressa told the BBC. "But as I was reading through the decision, and there was no reason to take us to court... we're not tax evaders - we never were… This was an incredibly important day because it would have set a direction for which way the Philippines was going."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a developing story. Check back later for updates. For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
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