Journalist and Duterte critic posts bail after libel arrest
Posted Feb 14, 2019 01:33:10 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MANILA, Philippines — The award-winning head of a Philippine online news site that has aggressively covered President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has been freed on bail after her arrest in a libel case.
National Bureau of Investigation agents served the warrant against Maria Ressa late Wednesday afternoon and escorted her from the Rappler Inc. office to NBI headquarters, where she stayed overnight. Duterte’s government denied it and said the arrest was a normal step in response to a criminal complaint.
“What we’re seeing is death by a thousand cuts of our democracy,” Ressa told reporters after posting bail in a Manila court.
Rappler’s 2012 article included allegations that a businessman was linked to drugs, human trafficking and a murder case, citing an unspecified intelligence report. He has denied the allegations and welcomed the indictment.
Bullit Marquez, The Associated Press
